Human antibodies against tissue factor and methods of use thereof

ABSTRACT

Isolated human monoclonal antibodies which bind to human TF and related antibody-based compositions and molecules, are disclosed. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the antibodies, and therapeutic and diagnostic methods for using the antibodies.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/843,728, filed on Jun. 17, 2022, which is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/880,241, filed on May 21, 2020, which is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/998,816, filed Aug. 16, 2018, which is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/626,866, filed Jun. 19, 2017, which is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/839,514, filed Aug. 28, 2015 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,714,297), which is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/133,811, filed Aug. 26, 2011 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,150,658), which is a U.S. National Phase application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2009/066755, filed Dec. 9, 2009, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/201,335, filed Dec. 9, 2008, and Danish Patent Application No. PA 2008 01744, filed Dec. 9, 2008, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

SUBMISSION OF ELECTRONIC SEQUENCE LISTING

The contents of the electronic sequence listing (165112000101seqlist.xml; Size: 122,844 bytes; and Date of Creation: Nov. 30, 2022) is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to antibodies directed to tissue factor in particular to human tissue factor, and uses of such antibodies, in particular their use in the treatment of cancer, inflammation and vascular diseases.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tissue factor (TF), also called thromboplastin, factor III or CD142 is a protein present in subendothelial tissue, platelets, and leukocytes necessary for the initiation of thrombin formation from the zymogen prothrombin. Thrombin formation ultimately leads to the coagulation of blood. Tissue factor enables cells to initiate the blood coagulation cascades, and it functions as the high-affinity receptor for the coagulation factor VII. The resulting complex provides a catalytic event that is responsible for initiation of the coagulation protease cascades by specific limited proteolysis. Unlike the other cofactors of these protease cascades, which circulate as nonfunctional precursors, this factor is a potent initiator that is fully functional when expressed on cell surfaces.

Tissue factor is the cell surface receptor for the serine protease factor VIIa (FVIIa). Binding of FVIIa to tissue factor has been found to start signaling processes inside the cell said signaling function playing a role in angiogenesis. Whereas angiogenesis is a normal process in growth and development, as well as in wound healing it is also a fundamental step in the transition of tumors from a dormant state to a malignant state: when cancer cells gain the ability to produce proteins that participate in angiogenesis, so called angiogenic growth factors, these proteins are released by the tumor into nearby tissues, and stimulate new blood vessels to sprout from existing healthy blood vessels toward and into the tumor. Once new blood vessels enter the tumor it can rapidly expand its size and invade local tissue and organs. Through the new blood vessels cancer cells may further escape into the circulation and lodge in other organs to form new tumors (metastases).

Further TF plays a role in inflammation. The role of TF is assumed to be mediated by blood coagulation (A. J. Chu: “Tissue factor mediates inflammation” in Archives of biochemistry and biophysics, 2005, vol. 440, No. 2, pp. 123-132). Accordingly, the inhibition of TF e.g. by monoclonal anti-TF antibodies is of significance in interrupting the coagulation-inflammation cycle in contribution to not only anti-inflammation but also to vascular diseases.

TF expression is observed in many types of cancer and is associated with more aggressive disease. Furthermore, human TF also exist in a soluble alternatively-spliced form, asHTF. It has recently been found that asHTF promotes tumor growth (Hobbs et al. 2007 Thrombosis Res. 120(2) S13-S21).

Antibodies binding to TF have been disclosed in the prior art:

WO98/40408 discloses antibodies that can bind native human TF, either alone or present in a TF:VIIa complex, effectively preventing factor X binding to TF or that complex, and thereby reducing blood coagulation. It is disclosed that the antibodies may be used to alleviate thromboses following an invasive medical procedure such as arterial or cardiac surgery or to eliminate blood coagulation arising from us of medical implementation. Further antibodies are disclosed to be employed in in vivo diagnostic methods including in vivo diagnostic imaging of native human TF.

WO04/094475 provides antibodies capable of binding to human tissue factor, which do not inhibit factor mediated blood coagulation compared to a normal plasma control. Human antibodies are not described. It is alleged that the antibody may be used for treatment of cancer.

WO03/093422 relates to antibodies that bind with greater affinity to the TF:VIIa complex than to TF alone. Use of the antibodies as anticoagulant in the treatment of certain diseases, such as sepsis, disseminated intravascular coagulation, ischemic stroke, thrombosis, acute coronary syndromes and coagulopathy in advanced cancer is proposed.

WO01/27079 discloses compositions and methods for inhibiting abnormal cell proliferation, particularly endothelial cell proliferation, such as cancer, abnormal development of embryos, malfunctioning of immune responses, as well as angiogenesis related to neovascularization and tumor growth. Many active substances, including antibodies, are proposed, but no specific antibodies are disclosed.

WO03/037361 relates to us of TF agonist or antagonist for treatment related to apoptosis. WO03/029295 relates to isolated human antibodies that immunoreact with human TF to inhibit the binding of coagulation factor VIIa. However, the application does not disclose a single example of an antibody having these properties.

A number of monoclonal antibody therapies are approved to treat different tumor types, including e.g. bevacizumab (Avastin®), cetuximab (Erbitux®), panitumumab (Vectibix™) and trastuzumab (Herceptin®).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Although much progress has been made, there remains a need for improved methods of treating serious diseases, e.g. improved treatment of cancer, based on therapeutic antibodies.

It is an object of the present invention to provide novel highly specific and effective human anti-TF antibodies for medical use. The antibodies of the invention exhibit TF binding characteristics that differ from the antibodies described in the art. In preferred embodiments, the antibodies of the invention have a high affinity towards human tissue factor, mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), inhibit FVIIa binding to TF, inhibit FVIIa-induced ERK phosphorylation and IL8 release, do not or poorly inhibit coagulation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 : Alignment of sequences of the antibodies of the present invention. CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 according to IMGT are highlighted: sequences in italics represent the CDR1 region, underlined sequences represent the CDR2 region, bold sequences represent the CDR3 region.

FIG. 2 : IgG4 sequences (SEQ ID NO: 113-114) SEQ ID NO: 113: The amino acid sequence of the wild-type CH region of human IgG4. The Sequence in italics represents the CH1 region, highlighted sequence represents the hinge region, regular sequence represents the CH2 region and underlined sequence represents the CH3 region. SEQ ID NO: 114: The amino acid sequence of the hingeless CH region of a human IgG4

FIG. 3 : Binding of anti-TF HuMabs to the extracellular domain of TF.

FIG. 4 : Binding of anti-TF HuMabs to membrane bound TF.

FIG. 5 : Inhibition of FVIIa binding to TF.

FIG. 6 : Inhibition of FVIIa induced ERK phosphorylation

FIG. 6A: Inhibition of FVIIa induced ERK phosphylation

FIG. 7 : Inhibition of FVIIa induced IL-8 release.

FIG. 8 : Inhibition of FXa generation.

FIG. 9 : Inhibition of blood coagulation.

FIG. 10 : TF-HuMabs induces lysis of Bx-PC3 cells by ADCC

FIG. 11 : Deposition of complement components C3c and C4c on target cells.

FIG. 12 : Immunohistochemical analysis of binding of TF-HuMabs to glomeruli.

FIG. 13 : Immunohistochemical analysis of binding of TF-HuMabs to pancreatic tumors.

FIG. 14 : In vivo efficacy of TF-HuMabs in established MDA-MB-231 tumor xenograft.

FIG. 15 : Bleeding time determined in cynomolgus monkeys upon intravenous injections of TF-specific HuMab 011. The antibody was administered on day 1 (0 mg/kg), 8 (1 mg/kg), 15 (10 mg/kg) and 22 (100 mg/kg).

FIG. 16 : In vivo efficacy of TF-HuMabs in a prophylactic and established BX-PC3 tumor xenograft.

FIG. 17A-17B: Shuffle constuct and TF domains

FIG. 18A-18O: binding of anti-TF antibodies to TF shuffle constructs. Shown are binding profiles of the anti-TF HuMabs to the different TF shuffle constructs expressed on HEK293F cells, as measured by FACS. Each panel shows data from one lead clone. On the x-axis the different constructs are depicted; mock, TFhs, TFmm, TFhsmm, TFmmhs, TFhs1-41 mm, TFhs42-84 mm, TFhs85-122 mm, TFhs123-137 mm, TFhs138-159 mm, TFhs160-184 mm, TFhs185-225 mm, TFhs226-250 mm, TFmm1-47hs, TFmm48-90hs, TFmm91-122hs, TFmm123-137hs, TFmm138-159hs, TFmm160-184hs, TFmm185-225hs, TFmm226-250hs.

FIG. 19 : Binding of HuMab-TF Fab fragments to extracellular domain of TF, ELISA

FIG. 20 : Binding of HuMab-TF Fab fragments to extracellular domain of TF, FACS

FIG. 21 : Binding profile of anti-TF HuMabs dependent on the number of TF molecules expressed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Definitions

The terms “tissue factor”, “TF”, “CD142”, “tissue factor antigen”, “TF antigen” and “CD142 antigen are used interchangeably herein, and, unless specified otherwise, include any variants, isoforms and species homologs of human tissue factor which are naturally expressed by cells or are expressed on cells transfected with the tissue factor gene.

The term “immunoglobulin” refers to a class of structurally related glycoproteins consisting of two pairs of polypeptide chains, one pair of light (L) low molecular weight chains and one pair of heavy (H) chains, which may all four be inter-connected by disulfide bonds. The structure of immunoglobulins has been well characterized. See for instance Fundamental Immunology Ch. 7 (Paul, W., ed., 2nd ed. Raven Press, N.Y. (1989)). Briefly, each heavy chain typically is comprised of a heavy chain variable region (abbreviated herein as V_(H) or VH) and a heavy chain constant region. The heavy chain constant region typically is comprised of three domains, C_(H)1, C_(H)2, and C_(H)3. Each light chain typically is comprised of a light chain variable region (abbreviated herein as V_(L) or VL) and a light chain constant region. The light chain constant region typically is comprised of one domain, C_(L). The V_(H) and V_(L) regions may be further subdivided into regions of hypervariability (or hypervariable regions which may be hypervariable in sequence and/or form of structurally defined loops), also termed complementarity determining regions (CDRs), interspersed with regions that are more conserved, termed framework regions (FRs). Each V_(H) and V_(L) is typically composed of three CDRs and four FRs, arranged from amino-terminus to carboxy-terminus in the following order: PR1, CDR1, FR2, CDR2, FR3, CDR3, FR4 (see also Chothia and Lesk J. Mol. Biol. 196, 901-917 (1987)). Typically, the numbering of amino acid residues in this region is according to IMGT., Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, 5th Ed. Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD. (1991) (phrases such as variable domain residue numbering as in Kabat or according to Kabat herein refer to this numbering system for heavy chain variable domains or light chain variable domains). Using this numbering system, the actual linear amino acid sequence of a peptide may contain fewer or additional amino acids corresponding to a shortening of, or insertion into, a FR or CDR of the variable domain. For example, a heavy chain variable domain may include a single amino acid insert (residue 52a according to Kabat) after residue 52 of V_(H) CDR2 and inserted residues (for instance residues 82a, 82b, and 82c, etc. according to Kabat) after heavy chain FR residue 82. The Kabat numbering of residues may be determined for a given antibody by alignment at regions of homology of the sequence of the antibody with a “standard” Kabat numbered sequence.

The term “antibody” (Ab) in the context of the present invention refers to an immunoglobulin molecule, a fragment of an immunoglobulin molecule, or a derivative of either thereof, which has the ability to specifically bind to an antigen under typical physiological conditions with a half life of significant periods of time, such as at least about 30 minutes, at least about 45 minutes, at least about one hour, at least about two hours, at least about four hours, at least about 8 hours, at least about 12 hours, about 24 hours or more, about 48 hours or more, about 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or more days, etc., or any other relevant functionally-defined period (such as a time sufficient to induce, promote, enhance, and/or modulate a physiological response associated with antibody binding to the antigen and/or time sufficient for the antibody to recruit an effector activity). The variable regions of the heavy and light chains of the immunoglobulin molecule contain a binding domain that interacts with an antigen. The constant regions of the antibodies (Abs) may mediate the binding of the immunoglobulin to host tissues or factors, including various cells of the immune system (such as effector cells) and components of the complement system such as C1q, the first component in the classical pathway of complement activation. An anti-TF antibody may also be a bispecific antibody, diabody, or similar molecule (see for instance PNAS USA 90(14), 6444-8 (1993) for a description of diabodies). Indeed, bispecific antibodies, diabodies, and the like, provided by the present invention may bind any suitable target in addition to a portion of tissue factor or tissue factor FVIIa complex. As indicated above, the term antibody herein, unless otherwise stated or clearly contradicted by context, includes fragments of an antibody that retain the ability to specifically bind to the antigen. It has been shown that the antigen-binding function of an antibody may be performed by fragments of a full-length antibody. Examples of binding fragments encompassed within the term “antibody” include (i) a Fab′ or Fab fragment, a monovalent fragment consisting of the V_(L), V_(H), C_(L) and C_(H)1 domains, or a monovalent antibody as described in WO2007059782 (Genmab); (ii) F(ab′)₂ fragments, bivalent fragments comprising two Fab fragments linked by a disulfide bridge at the hinge region; (iii) a Fd fragment consisting essentially of the V_(H) and C_(H)1 domains; (iv) a Fv fragment consisting essentially of a V_(L) and V_(H) domains, (v) a dAb fragment (Ward et al., Nature 341, 544-546 (1989)), which consists essentially of a V_(H) domain and also called domain antibodies (Holt et al; Trends Biotechnol. 2003 November; 21(11):484-90); (vi) camelid or nanobodies (Revets et al; Expert Opin Biol Ther. 2005 January; 5(1):111-24) and (vii) an isolated complementarity determining region (CDR). Furthermore, although the two domains of the Fv fragment, V_(L) and V_(H), are coded for by separate genes, they may be joined, using recombinant methods, by a synthetic linker that enables them to be made as a single protein chain in which the V_(L) and V_(H) regions pair to form monovalent molecules (known as single chain antibodies or single chain Fv (scFv), see for instance Bird et al., Science 242, 423-426 (1988) and Huston et al., PNAS USA 85, 5879-5883 (1988)). Such single chain antibodies are encompassed within the term antibody unless otherwise noted or clearly indicated by context. Although such fragments are generally included within the meaning of antibody, they collectively and each independently are unique features of the present invention, exhibiting different biological properties and utility. These and other useful antibody fragments in the context of the present invention are discussed further herein. It also should be understood that the term antibody, unless specified otherwise, also includes polyclonal antibodies, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), antibody-like polypeptides, such as chimeric antibodies and humanized antibodies, and antibody fragments retaining the ability to specifically bind to the antigen (antigen-binding fragments) provided by any known technique, such as enzymatic cleavage, peptide synthesis, and recombinant techniques. An antibody as generated can possess any isotype.

An “anti-TF antibody” is an antibody as described above, which binds specifically to the antigen tissue factor.

The term “human antibody”, as used herein, is intended to include antibodies having variable and constant regions derived from human germline immunoglobulin sequences. The human antibodies of the invention may include amino acid residues not encoded by human germline immunoglobulin sequences (e.g., mutations introduced by random or site-specific mutagenesis in vitro or during gene rearrangement or by somatic mutation in vivo). However, the term “human antibody”, as used herein, is not intended to include antibodies in which CDR sequences derived from the germline of another mammalian species, such as a mouse, have been grafted onto human framework sequences.

In a preferred embodiment, the antibody of the invention is isolated. An “isolated antibody,” as used herein, is intended to refer to an antibody which is substantially free of other antibodies having different antigenic specificities (for instance an isolated antibody that specifically binds to tissue factor is substantially free of antibodies that specifically bind antigens other than tissue factor). An isolated antibody that specifically binds to an epitope, isoform or variant of human tissue factor may, however, have cross-reactivity to other related antigens, for instance from other species (such as tissue factor species homologs). Moreover, an isolated antibody may be substantially free of other cellular material and/or chemicals. In one embodiment of the present invention, two or more “isolated” monoclonal antibodies having different antigen-binding specificities are combined in a well-defined composition.

When used herein in the context of two or more antibodies, the term “competes with” or “cross-competes with” indicates that the two or more antibodies compete for binding to TF, e.g. compete for TF binding in the assay described in Example 6 herein. For some pairs of antibodies, competition in the assay of Example 6 is only observed when one antibody is coated on the plate and the other is used to compete, and not vice versa. The term “competes with” when used herein is also intended to cover such combinations antibodies.

The terms “monoclonal antibody” or “monoclonal antibody composition” as used herein refer to a preparation of antibody molecules of single molecular composition. A monoclonal antibody composition displays a single binding specificity and affinity for a particular epitope. Accordingly, the term “human monoclonal antibody” refers to antibodies displaying a single binding specificity which have variable and constant regions derived from human germline immunoglobulin sequences. The human monoclonal antibodies may be generated by a hybridoma which includes a B cell obtained from a transgenic or transchromosomal nonhuman animal, such as a transgenic mouse, having a genome comprising a human heavy chain transgene and a light chain transgene, fused to an immortalized cell.

As used herein, the term “binding” in the context of the binding of an antibody to a predetermined antigen typically is a binding with an affinity corresponding to a K_(D) of about 10⁻⁷ M or less, such as about 10⁻⁸ M or less, such as about 10⁻⁹ M or less, about 10⁻¹⁰ M or less, or about 10⁻¹¹ M or even less when determined by for instance surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology in a BIAcore 3000 instrument using the antigen as the ligand and the antibody as the analyte, and binds to the predetermined antigen with an affinity corresponding to a K_(D) that is at least ten-fold lower, such as at least 100 fold lower, for instance at least 1,000 fold lower, such as at least 10,000 fold lower, for instance at least 100,000 fold lower than its affinity for binding to a non-specific antigen (e.g., BSA, casein) other than the predetermined antigen or a closely-related antigen. The amount with which the affinity is lower is dependent on the K_(D) of the antibody, so that when the K_(D) of the antibody is very low (that is, the antibody is highly specific), then the amount with which the affinity for the antigen is lower than the affinity for a non-specific antigen may be at least 10,000 fold.

The term “k_(d)” (sec⁻¹), as used herein, refers to the dissociation rate constant of a particular antibody-antigen interaction. Said value is also referred to as the k_(off) value.

The term “k_(a)” (M⁻¹×sec⁻¹), as used herein, refers to the association rate constant of a particular antibody-antigen interaction.

The term “K_(D)” (M), as used herein, refers to the dissociation equilibrium constant of a particular antibody-antigen interaction.

The term “K_(A)” (M⁻¹), as used herein, refers to the association equilibrium constant of a particular antibody-antigen interaction and is obtained by dividing the k_(a) by the k_(d).

The present invention also provides antibodies comprising functional variants of the V_(L) region, V_(H) region, or one or more CDRs of the antibodies of the examples. A functional variant of a V_(L), V_(H), or CDR used in the context of an anti-TF antibody still allows the antibody to retain at least a substantial proportion (at least about 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95% or more) of the affinity/avidity and/or the specificity/selectivity of the parent antibody and in some cases such an anti-TF antibody may be associated with greater affinity, selectivity and/or specificity than the parent antibody.

Such functional variants typically retain significant sequence identity to the parent antibody. The percent identity between two sequences is a function of the number of identical positions shared by the sequences (i.e., % homology=#of identical positions/total #of positions×100), taking into account the number of gaps, and the length of each gap, which need to be introduced for optimal alignment of the two sequences. The comparison of sequences and determination of percent identity between two sequences may be accomplished using a mathematical algorithm, as described in the non-limiting examples below.

The percent identity between two nucleotide sequences may be determined using the GAP program in the GCG software package (available at http://www.gcg.com), using a NWSgapdna.CMP matrix and a gap weight of 40, 50, 60, 70, or 80 and a length weight of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. The percent identity between two nucleotide or amino acid sequences may also be determined using the algorithm of E. Meyers and W. Miller, Comput. Appl. Biosci 4, 11-17 (1988)) which has been incorporated into the ALIGN program (version 2.0), using a PAM120 weight residue table, a gap length penalty of 12 and a gap penalty of 4. In addition, the percent identity between two amino acid sequences may be determined using the Needleman and Wunsch, J. Mol. Biol. 48, 444-453 (1970)) algorithm which has been incorporated into the GAP program in the GCG software package (available at http://www.gcg.com), using either a Blossum 62 matrix or a PAM250 matrix, and a gap weight of 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, or 4 and a length weight of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6.

The sequence of CDR variants may differ from the sequence of the CDR of the parent antibody sequences through mostly conservative substitutions; for instance at least about 35%, about 50% or more, about 60% or more, about 70% or more, about 75% or more, about 80% or more, about 85% or more, about 90% or more, about 95% or more (e.g., about 65-99%, such as about 96%, 97% or 98%) of the substitutions in the variant are conservative amino acid residue replacements.

The sequence of CDR variants may differ from the sequence of the CDR of the parent antibody sequences through mostly conservative substitutions; for instance at least 10, such as at least 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 of the substitutions in the variant are conservative amino acid residue replacements.

In the context of the present invention, conservative substitutions may be defined by substitutions within the classes of amino acids reflected in one or more of the following three tables:

Amino acid residue classes for conservative substitutions Acidic Residues Asp (D) and Glu (E) Basic Residues Lys (K), Arg (R), and His (H) Hydrophilic Uncharged Residues Ser (S), Thr (T), Asn (N), and Gln (Q) Aliphatic Uncharged Residues Gly (G), Ala (A), Val (V), Leu (L), and Ile (I) Non-polar Uncharged Residues Cys (C), Met (M), and Pro (P) Aromatic Residues Phe (F), Tyr (Y), and Trp (W)

Alternative conservative amino acid residue substitution classes 1 A S T 2 D E 3 N Q 4 R K 5 I L M 6 F Y W

Alternative Physical and Functional Classifications of Amino Acid Residues Alcohol group-containing residues S and T Aliphatic residues I, L, V, and M Cycloalkenyl-associated residues F, H, W, and Y Hydrophobic residues A, C, F, G, H, I, L, M, R, T, V, W, and Y Negatively charged residues D and E Polar residues C, D, E, H, K, N, Q, R, S, and T Positively charged residues H, K, and R Small residues A, C, D, G, N, P, S, T, and V Very small residues A, G, and S Residues involved in turn formation A, C, D, E, G, H, K, N, Q, R, S, P, and T Flexible residues Q, T, K, S, G, P, D, E, and R

More conservative substitutions groupings include: valine-leucine-isoleucine, phenylalanine-tyrosine, lysine-arginine, alanine-valine, and asparagine-glutamine.

Additional groups of amino acids may also be formulated using the principles described in, e.g., Creighton (1984) Proteins: Structure and Molecular Properties (2d Ed. 1993), W.H. Freeman and Company.

In one embodiment of the present invention, conservation in terms of hydropathic/hydrophilic properties and residue weight/size also is substantially retained in a variant CDR as compared to a CDR of an antibody of the examples (e.g., the weight class, hydropathic score, or both of the sequences are at least about 50%, at least about 60%, at least about 70%, at least about 75%, at least about 80%, at least about 85%, at least about 90%, at least about 95%, or more (e.g., about 65-99%) retained). For example, conservative residue substitutions may also or alternatively be based on the replacement of strong or weak based weight based conservation groups, which are known in the art.

The retention of similar residues may also or alternatively be measured by a similarity score, as determined by use of a BLAST program (e.g., BLAST 2.2.8 available through the NCBI using standard settings BLOSUM62, Open Gap=11 and Extended Gap=1). Suitable variants typically exhibit at least about 45%, such as at least about 55%, at least about 65%, at least about 75%, at least about 85%, at least about 90%, at least about 95%, or more (e.g., about 70-99%) similarity to the parent peptide.

As used herein, “isotype” refers to the immunoglobulin class (for instance IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgD, IgA, IgE, or IgM) that is encoded by heavy chain constant region genes.

The term “epitope” means a protein determinant capable of specific binding to an antibody. Epitopes usually consist of surface groupings of molecules such as amino acids or sugar side chains and usually have specific three dimensional structural characteristics, as well as specific charge characteristics. Conformational and nonconformational epitopes are distinguished in that the binding to the former but not the latter is lost in the presence of denaturing solvents. The epitope may comprise amino acid residues directly involved in the binding (also called immunodominant component of the epitope) and other amino acid residues, which are not directly involved in the binding, such as amino acid residues which are effectively blocked by the specifically antigen binding peptide (in other words, the amino acid residue is within the footprint of the specifically antigen binding peptide).

As used herein, a human antibody is “derived from” a particular germline sequence if the antibody is obtained from a system using human immunoglobulin sequences, for instance by immunizing a transgenic mouse carrying human immunoglobulin genes or by screening a human immunoglobulin gene library, and wherein the selected human antibody V domain sequence is at least 90%, such as at least 95%, for instance at least 96%, such as at least 97%, for instance at least 98%, or such as at least 99% identical in amino acid V domain sequence to the amino acid sequence encoded by the germline immunoglobulin gene. Typically, outside the heavy chain CDR3, a human antibody derived from a particular human germline sequence will display no more than 20 amino acid differences, e.g. no more than 10 amino acid differences, such as no more than 9, 8, 7, 6 or 5, for instance no more than 4, 3, 2, or 1 amino acid difference from the amino acid sequence encoded by the germline immunoglobulin gene.

As used herein, the term “inhibits growth” (e.g. referring to cells, such as tumor cells) is intended to include any measurable decrease in the cell growth when contacted with an anti-TF antibody as compared to the growth of the same cells not in contact with an anti-TF antibody, e.g., the inhibition of growth of a cell culture by at least about 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 99%, or 100%. Such a decrease in cell growth can occur by a variety of mechanisms, e.g. effector cell phagocytosis, ADCC, CDC, and/or apoptosis.

The term “bispecific molecule” is intended to include any agent, such as a protein, peptide, or protein or peptide complex, which has two different binding specificities. For example, the molecule may bind to, or interact with, (a) a cell surface antigen and (b) an Fc receptor on the surface of an effector cell. The term “bispecific antibody” is intended to include any anti-TF antibody, which is a bispecific molecule. The term “bispecific antibodies” also includes diabodies. Diabodies are bivalent, bispecific antibodies in which the V H and VL domains are expressed on a single polypeptide chain, but using a linker that is too short to allow for pairing between the two domains on the same chain, thereby forcing the domains to pair with complementary domains of another chain and creating two antigen binding sites (see for instance Holliger, P. et al., PNAS USA 90, 6444-6448 (1993), Poljak, R. J. et al., Structure 2, 1121-1123 (1994)).

An “antibody deficient in effector function” or an “effector-function-deficient antibody” refers to an antibody which has a significantly reduced or no ability to activate one or more effector mechanisms, such as complement activation or Fc receptor binding. Thus, effector-function deficient antibodies have significantly reduced or no ability to mediate antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and/or complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC). An example of such an antibody is IgG4.

The term “monovalent antibody” means in the context of the present invention that an antibody molecule is capable of binding a single molecule of the antigen, and thus is not able of antigen crosslinking.

The term “stabilized IgG4 antibody” refers to an IgG4 antibody which has been modified to reduce half-molecule exchange (see van der Neut Kolfschoten M et al. (2007) Science 14; 317(5844) and references therein, and also Labrijn et al. (2009) Nature Biotechnology, 27, 767-771.

As used herein, the term “effector cell” refers to an immune cell which is involved in the effector phase of an immune response, as opposed to the cognitive and activation phases of an immune response. Exemplary immune cells include a cell of a myeloid or lymphoid origin, for instance lymphocytes (such as B cells and T cells including cytolytic T cells (CTLs)), killer cells, natural killer cells, macrophages, monocytes, eosinophils, polymorphonuclear cells, such as neutrophils, granulocytes, mast cells, and basophils. Some effector cells express specific Fc receptors and carry out specific immune functions. In some embodiments, an effector cell is capable of inducing antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), such as a natural killer cell, capable of inducing ADCC. For example, monocytes, macrophages, which express FcR are involved in specific killing of target cells and presenting antigens to other components of the immune system, or binding to cells that present antigens. In some embodiments, an effector cell may phagocytose a target antigen or target cell. The expression of a particular FcR on an effector cell may be regulated by humoral factors such as cytokines. For example, expression of FcγRI has been found to be up-regulated by interferon γ (IFN-γ) and/or G-CSF. This enhanced expression increases the cytotoxic activity of FcγRI-bearing cells against targets. An effector cell can phagocytose or lyse a target antigen or a target cell.

The term “vector,” as used herein, is intended to refer to a nucleic acid molecule capable of transporting another nucleic acid to which it has been linked. One type of vector is a “plasmid”, which refers to a circular double stranded DNA loop into which additional DNA segments may be ligated. Another type of vector is a viral vector, wherein additional DNA segments may be ligated into the viral genome. Certain vectors are capable of autonomous replication in a host cell into which they are introduced (for instance bacterial vectors having a bacterial origin of replication and episomal mammalian vectors). Other vectors (such as non-episomal mammalian vectors) may be integrated into the genome of a host cell upon introduction into the host cell, and thereby are replicated along with the host genome. Moreover, certain vectors are capable of directing the expression of genes to which they are operatively linked. Such vectors are referred to herein as “recombinant expression vectors” (or simply, “expression vectors”). In general, expression vectors of utility in recombinant DNA techniques are often in the form of plasmids. In the present specification, “plasmid” and “vector” may be used interchangeably as the plasmid is the most commonly used form of vector. However, the present invention is intended to include such other forms of expression vectors, such as viral vectors (such as replication defective retroviruses, adenoviruses and adeno-associated viruses), which serve equivalent functions.

The term “recombinant host cell” (or simply “host cell”), as used herein, is intended to refer to a cell into which an expression vector has been introduced. It should be understood that such terms are intended to refer not only to the particular subject cell, but also to the progeny of such a cell. Because certain modifications may occur in succeeding generations due to either mutation or environmental influences, such progeny may not, in fact, be identical to the parent cell, but are still included within the scope of the term “host cell” as used herein. Recombinant host cells include, for example, transfectomas, such as CHO cells, HEK293 cells, NS/0 cells, and lymphocytic cells.

The term “transfectoma”, as used herein, includes recombinant eukaryotic host cells expressing the antibody, such as CHO cells, NS/0 cells, HEK293 cells, plant cells, or fungi, including yeast cells.

The term “transgenic non-human animal” refers to a non-human animal having a genome comprising one or more human heavy and/or light chain transgenes or transchromosomes (either integrated or non-integrated into the animal's natural genomic DNA) and which is capable of expressing fully human antibodies. For example, a transgenic mouse can have a human light chain transgene and either a human heavy chain transgene or human heavy chain transchromosome, such that the mouse produces human anti-TF antibodies when immunized with TF antigen and/or cells expressing TF. The human heavy chain transgene may be integrated into the chromosomal DNA of the mouse, as is the case for transgenic mice, for instance HuMAb mice, such as HCo7 or HCo12 mice, or the human heavy chain transgene may be maintained extrachromosomally, as is the case for transchromosomal KM mice as described in WO02/43478. Such transgenic and transchromosomal mice (collectively referred to herein as “transgenic mice”) are capable of producing multiple isotypes of human monoclonal antibodies to a given antigen (such as IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD and/or IgE) by undergoing V-D-J recombination and isotype switching. Transgenic, nonhuman animal can also be used for production of antibodies against a specific antigen by introducing genes encoding such specific antibody, for example by operatively linking the genes to a gene which is expressed in the milk of the animal.

“Treatment” refers to the administration of an effective amount of a therapeutically active compound of the present invention with the purpose of easing, ameliorating, arresting or eradicating (curing) symptoms or disease states.

An “effective amount” refers to an amount effective, at dosages and for periods of time necessary, to achieve a desired therapeutic result. A therapeutically effective amount of an anti-TF antibody may vary according to factors such as the disease state, age, sex, and weight of the individual, and the ability of the anti-TF antibody to elicit a desired response in the individual. A therapeutically effective amount is also one in which any toxic or detrimental effects of the antibody or antibody portion are outweighed by the therapeutically beneficial effects.

An “anti-idiotypic” (Id) antibody is an antibody which recognizes unique determinants generally associated with the antigen-binding site of an antibody.

Further Aspects and Embodiments of the Invention

As described above, in a first aspect, the invention relates to a human antibody which binds human Tissue Factor.

In one embodiment, the antibody binds to the extracellular domain of Tissue Factor with an apparent affinity (EC₅₀) of 3 nM or less, such as 0.50 nM or less, e.g. 0.35 nM or less, such as 0.20 nM or less, e.g. 0.1 nM or less, when determined as described in the assay in Example 13.

In another embodiment, the antibody binds to mammalian cells expressing Tissue Factor, such as A431 cells transfected with a construct encoding Tissue Factor, preferably with an apparent affinity (EC₅₀) of 10 nM or less, e.g. 8 nM or less, such as 5 nM or less, e.g. 2 nM or less, such as 1 nM or less, e.g. 0.5 nM or less, such as 0.3 nM or less, when determined as described in the assay in Example 14.

In another embodiment, the antibody is capable of inducing antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity in A431 cells, preferably with an EC₅₀ value of 2 nM or less, e.g. 1 nM or less, such as 0.7 nM or less or 0.3 nM or less, such as 0.2 nM or less, or 0.1 nM or less, or 0.05 nM or less, when determined as described in the assay in Example 20.

In another embodiment, the antibody is effective in inhibiting growth of established MDA-MB-231 tumors, when determined by the method described in Example 24 and/or in inhibiting growth of established BxPC3 tumors, when determined by the method described in Example 26.

In another embodiment, the antibody inhibits tissue factor induced blood coagulation, preferably with a median inhibition concentration of less than 10 nM, such as less than 5 nM, e.g. less than 2 nM, such as less than 1 nM when determined as described in the assay in Example 19.

In another embodiment, the antibody does not inhibit coagulation. In an embodiment the coagulation is inhibited with a maximum of 30%, such as 25%, such as 20%, such as 15%, such as 10% or such as 5% compared to native level.

In a further embodiment, the antibody inhibits FVIIa binding to Tissue Factor, preferably with a maximum inhibition value of inhibition of more than 80%, such as more than 90% when determined as described in the assay in Example 15.

In a further embodiment, the antibody inhibits FVIIa-induced IL-8 release by MDA-MB-231 cells, preferably with a maximum inhibition value of inhibition of more than 40%, such as more than 50%, e.g. more than 60%, when determined in as described in the assay in Example 17.

In a further embodiment, the antibody inhibits conversion of FX into FXa by the TF/FVIIa complex, preferably by less than 50%, e.g. less than 40%, such as in the range of 1-30%, when determined as described in the assay in Example 18.

In a further embodiment, the antibody competes for Tissue Factor binding with an antibody comprising a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:9 and a VL region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:65.

In a further embodiment, the binding of the antibody of the invention to Tissue Factor does not involve all three of the following residues: W in position 45, K in position 46 or Y in position 94 of Tissue Factor. In an even further embodiment, the binding does not involve any of the following residues: W in position 45, K in position 46 or Y in position 94 (these number refer to mature TF, the equivalent positions in Genbank entry NP_001984 are 77, 78 and 126).

In another embodiment of the antibody of the invention, the antibody competes for Tissue Factor binding with an antibody comprising a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:37 and a VL region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:93.

In a further embodiment, the antibody inhibits FVIIa induced ERK phosphorylation, preferably with a median inhibition concentration of less than 10 nM, such as less than 5 nM, e.g. less than 2 nM when determined as described in the assay in Example 16.

In a further embodiment, the antibody inhibits ERK phosphorylation preferably with a median inhibition concentration of less than 10 nM, such as less than 5 nM, e.g. less than 2 nM when determined as described in the assay in Example 16 and do not inhibit FVII induced IL-8 release as described in the assay in Example 17 by more than maximum 10%

In a further embodiment, the antibody is capable of inducing C3c and C4c deposition, preferably wherein the antibody is capable of inducing C3c and C4c deposition as determined in Example 21.

In a further embodiment, the antibody Fab fragments binds to the extracellular domain of tissue factor as described in example 28 with an EC50 value of below 0.1 μg/mL., such as below 0.05 μg/mL, e.g. below 0.04 μg/mL. as measured by ELISA.

In a further embodiment, the antibody Fab fragments binds to the extracellular domain of tissue factor as described in example 28 with an EC50 value of above 1.0 μg/mL. as measured by ELISA.

In a further embodiment, the antibody Fab fragments binds to the extracellular domain of tissue factor as described in example 28 with an EC50 value of below 10 □g/mL, such as below 1 □g/mL, e.g. below 0.5 □g/mL, or below 0.20 □□g/mL.

In a further embodiment, the antibody binds to human tissue factor and not murine tissue factor and shows reduced binding as compared to binding to human TF to the shuffle construct 42-84 mm, containing the human sequence for TF except for amino acid 42-84, which has been replaced with mouse sequence, as described in example 27.

In a further embodiment, the antibody binds to human tissue factor and not murine tissue factor and shows reduced binding as compared to binding to human TF to the shuffle construct 85-122, containing the human sequence for TF except for amino acid 85-122, which has been replaced with mouse sequence, as described in example 27.

In a further embodiment, the antibody binds to human tissue factor and not murine tissue factor and shows reduced binding as compared to binding to human TF to the shuffle construct 123-137 mm containing the human sequence for TF except for amino acid 123-137, which has been replaced with mouse sequence, as described in example 27.

In a further embodiment, the antibody binds to human tissue factor and not murine tissue factor and shows reduced binding as compared to binding to human TF to the shuffle construct 185-225 mm containing the human sequence for TF except for amino acid 185-225, which has been replaced with mouse sequence, as described in example 27.

In a further embodiment, the antibody binds to human tissue factor and not murine tissue factor and shows reduced binding as compared to binding to human TF to both the shuffle construct 226-250 mm containing the human sequence for TF except for amino acid 226-250, which has been replaced with mouse sequence, as described in example 27.

In a further embodiment, the antibody shows reduced binding as compared to binding to human TF to more than one shuffle construct. In an embodiment an antibody shows reduced binding to construct 42-84 mm as well as to 85-122 mm. In an embodiment an antibody shows reduced binding to 123-137 mm as well as to construct 185-225 mm. In an embodiment an antibody shows reduced binding to construct 123-137 mm as well as to construct 185-225 mm and further to construct 226-250 mm.

In a further embodiment, the antibody is capable of inducing C3c and C4c deposition, preferably wherein the antibody is capable of inducing C3c and C4c deposition as determined in Example 21.

In one embodiment of the antibody of the invention, said antibody

-   -   competes for Tissue Factor binding with an antibody comprising a         VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:9 and a VL region         comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:65, and     -   does not compete for Tissue Factor binding with an antibody         comprising a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:37         and a VL region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:93.

In a further embodiment, the antibody comprises a VH CDR3 region having

-   -   a) the sequence as set forth in         -   SEQ ID No: 12,         -   SEQ ID No: 16,         -   SEQ ID No: 20,         -   SEQ ID No: 24,         -   SEQ ID No: 28,     -   or     -   b) a variant of any of said sequences, such as a variant having         at most 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 amino-acid modifications, preferably         substitutions, such as conservative substitutions.

In a further embodiment, the antibody comprises a VH CDR3 region having the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 12 or a variant thereof, wherein the variant comprises modification in one or more of the positions 2, 3, 6, 9 and 11, preferably where the modification is a substitution, more preferably where the substitution is selected from the group consisting of

-   -   a. R is substituted with K when in position 2,     -   b. S is substituted with A or T when in position 3,     -   c. G is substituted with T when in position 6,     -   d. L is substituted with F when in position 9, and     -   e. S is substituted with Y when in position 11.

In another embodiment, the antibody comprises:

-   -   a) a VH region comprising the CDR1, 2 and 3 sequences of SEQ ID         NO:10, 11 and 12 and a VL region comprising the CDR1, 2 and 3         sequences of SEQ ID NO:66, 67 and 68,     -   b) a VH region comprising the CDR1, 2 and 3 sequences of SEQ ID         NO:14, 15 and 16 and a VL region comprising the CDR1, 2 and 3         sequences of SEQ ID NO:70, 71 and 72,     -   c) a VH region comprising the CDR1, 2 and 3 sequences of SEQ ID         NO:18, 19, 20 and a VL region comprising the CDR1, 2 and 3         sequences of SEQ ID NO:74, 75 and 76,     -   d) a VH region comprising the CDR1, 2 and 3 sequences of SEQ ID         NO:22, 23 and 24 and a VL region comprising the CDR1, 2 and 3         sequences of SEQ ID NO:78, 79 and 80,     -   e) a VH region comprising the CDR1, 2 and 3 sequences of SEQ ID         NO: 26, 27 and 28 and a VL region comprising the CDR1, 2 and 3         sequences of SEQ ID NO: 82, 83 and 84, or     -   f) a variant of any of said antibodies, wherein said variant         preferably has at most 1, 2 or 3 amino-acid modifications, more         preferably amino-acid substitutions, such as conservative         amino-acid substitutions in said sequences.

In a further embodiment, the antibody comprises a VH having

-   -   a) at least 80% identity, such as at least 90%, at least 95%, or         at least 98% or 100% identity to a VH region sequence selected         from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:9, 13, 17, 21 and 25, or     -   b) at most 20, such as 15, or 10, or 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 amino-acid         modifications, more preferably amino-acid substitutions, such as         conservative amino-acid substitutions as compared to a VH region         sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:9, 13,         17, 21, 21 and 25.

In a further embodiment, the antibody comprises a VL having

-   -   a) at least 80% identity, such as at least 90%, at least 95%, or         at least 98% or 100% identity to a VL region sequence selected         from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:65, 69, 73, 77 and 81,         or     -   b) at most 20, such as 15, or 10, or 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 amino-acid         modifications, more preferably amino-acid substitutions, such as         conservative amino-acid substitutions as compared to a VH region         sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:65,         69, 73, 77 and 81.

In a further embodiment, the antibody comprises:

-   -   a) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:9 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 65,     -   b) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:13 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:69,     -   c) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:17 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:73,     -   d) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:21 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:77,     -   e) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:25 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:81, or     -   f) a variant of any of said antibodies, wherein said variant         preferably has at most 1, 2 or 3 amino-acid modifications, more         preferably amino-acid substitutions, such as conservative         amino-acid substitutions in said sequences.

In a further embodiment, the antibody

-   -   competes for Tissue Factor binding with an antibody comprising a         VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:9 and a VL region         comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:65, and     -   competes for Tissue Factor binding with an antibody comprising a         VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:37 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:93.

In a further embodiment, the antibody comprises a VH CDR3 region having

-   -   a) the sequence as set forth in         -   SEQ ID No: 8,         -   SEQ ID No: 52,     -   or     -   b) a variant of any of said sequences, such as a variant having         at most 1, 2 or 3 amino-acid modifications, preferably         substitutions, such as conservative substitutions.

In a further embodiment, the antibody comprises:

-   -   a) a VH region comprising the CDR1, 2 and 3 sequences of SEQ ID         NO:6, 7 and 8 and a VL region comprising the CDR1, 2 and 3         sequences of SEQ ID NO:62, 63 and 64,     -   b) a VH region comprising the CDR1, 2 and 3 sequences of SEQ ID         NO:50, 51 and 52 and a VL region comprising the CDR1, 2 and 3         sequences of SEQ ID NO:106, 107 and 108, or     -   c) a variant of any of said antibodies, wherein said variant         preferably has at most 1, 2 or 3 amino-acid modifications, more         preferably amino-acid substitutions, such as conservative         amino-acid substitutions in said sequences.

In a further embodiment, the antibody comprises a VH having

-   -   a) at least 80% identity, such as at least 90%, at least 95%, or         at least 98% or 100% identity to a VH region sequence selected         from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:5 and 49, or     -   b) at most 20, such as 15, or 10, or 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 amino-acid         modifications, more preferably amino-acid substitutions, such as         conservative amino-acid substitutions as compared to a VH region         sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:5 and         49.

In a further embodiment, the antibody comprises a VL having

-   -   c) at least 80% identity, such as at least 90%, at least 95%, or         at least 98% or 100% identity to a VL region sequence selected         from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO: 61 and 105, or     -   d) at most 20, such as 15, or 10, or 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 amino-acid         modifications, more preferably amino-acid substitutions, such as         conservative amino-acid substitutions as compared to a VH region         sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:61 and         105.

In a further embodiment, the antibody comprises:

-   -   a) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:5 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:61,     -   b) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:49 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:105, or     -   c) a variant of any of said antibodies, wherein said variant         preferably has at most 1, 2 or 3 amino-acid modifications, more         preferably amino-acid substitutions, such as conservative         amino-acid substitutions in said sequences.

In a further embodiment, the antibody

-   -   does not compete for Tissue Factor binding with an antibody         comprising a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:9         and a VL region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:65, and     -   competes for Tissue Factor binding with an antibody comprising a         VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:37 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:93.

In a further embodiment, the antibody comprises a VH CDR3 region having

-   -   a) the sequence as set forth in         -   SEQ ID No: 32,         -   SEQ ID No: 36,         -   SEQ ID No: 40,         -   SEQ ID No: 56,     -   or     -   b) a variant of any of said sequences, such as a variant having         at most 1, 2 or 3 amino-acid modifications, preferably         substitutions, such as conservative substitutions.

In a further embodiment, the antibody comprises:

-   -   a) a VH region comprising the CDR1, 2 and 3 sequences of SEQ ID         NO: 30, 31 and 32 and a VL region comprising the CDR1, 2 and 3         sequences of SEQ ID NO: 86, 87 and 88,     -   b) a VH region comprising the CDR1, 2 and 3 sequences of SEQ ID         NO:34, 35 and 36 and a VL region comprising the CDR1, 2 and 3         sequences of SEQ ID NO:90, 91 and 92,     -   c) a VH region comprising the CDR1, 2 and 3 sequences of SEQ ID         NO:38, 39 and 40 and a VL region comprising the CDR1, 2 and 3         sequences of SEQ ID NO:94, 95 and 96,     -   d) a VH region comprising the CDR1, 2 and 3 sequences of SEQ ID         NO:54, 55 and 56 and a VL region comprising the CDR1, 2 and 3         sequences of SEQ ID NO:110, 11 and 112, or     -   e) a variant of any of said antibodies, wherein said variant         preferably has at most 1, 2 or 3 amino-acid modifications, more         preferably amino-acid substitutions, such as conservative         amino-acid substitutions in said sequences.

In a further embodiment, the antibody comprises a VH having

-   -   a) at least 80% identity, such as at least 90%, at least 95%, or         at least 98% or 100% identity to a VH region sequence selected         from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:29, 33, 37 and 53, or     -   b) at most 20, such as 15, or 10, or 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 amino-acid         modifications, more preferably amino-acid substitutions, such as         conservative amino-acid substitutions as compared to a VH region         sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:29,         33, 37 and 53.

In a further embodiment, the antibody comprises a VL having

-   -   a) at least 80% identity, such as at least 90%, at least 95%, or         at least 98% or 100% identity to a VL region sequence selected         from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:85, 89, 93 and 109, or     -   b) at most 20, such as 15, or 10, or 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 amino-acid         modifications, more preferably amino-acid substitutions, such as         conservative amino-acid substitutions as compared to a VH region         sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:85,         89, 93 and 109.

In a further embodiment, the antibody comprises:

-   -   a) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:29 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:85,     -   b) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:33 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:89,     -   c) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:37 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:93,     -   d) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:53 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:109, or     -   e) a variant of any of said antibodies, wherein said variant         preferably has at most 1, 2 or 3 amino-acid modifications, more         preferably amino-acid substitutions, such as conservative         amino-acid substitutions in said sequences.

In a further embodiment, the antibody comprises antibody competes for Tissue Factor binding with an antibody comprising a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:41 and a VL region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:97.

In a further embodiment, the antibody comprises a VH CDR3 region having

-   -   a) the sequence as set forth in         -   SEQ ID No: 4,         -   SEQ ID No: 44,         -   SEQ ID No: 48,     -   or     -   b) a variant of any of said sequences, such as a variant having         at most 1, 2 or 3 amino-acid modifications, preferably         substitutions, such as conservative substitutions.

In a further embodiment, the antibody comprises:

-   -   a) a VH region comprising the CDR1, 2 and 3 sequences of SEQ ID         NO:2, 3 and 4 and a VL region comprising the CDR1, 2 and 3         sequences of SEQ ID NO:58, 59 and 60,     -   b) a VH region comprising the CDR1, 2 and 3 sequences of SEQ ID         NO:42, 43 and 44 and a VL region comprising the CDR1, 2 and 3         sequences of SEQ ID NO:98, 99 and 100,     -   c) a VH region comprising the CDR1, 2 and 3 sequences of SEQ ID         NO:46, 47 and 48 and a VL region comprising the CDR1, 2 and 3         sequences of SEQ ID NO:102, 103 and 104, or     -   d) a variant of any of said antibodies, wherein said variant         preferably has at most 1, 2 or 3 amino-acid modifications, more         preferably amino-acid substitutions, such as conservative         amino-acid substitutions in said sequences.

In a further embodiment, the antibody comprises a VH having

-   -   a) at least 80% identity, such as at least 90%, at least 95%, or         at least 98% or 100% identity to a VH region sequence selected         from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:1, 41 and 45, or     -   b) at most 20, such as 15, or 10, or 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 amino-acid         modifications, more preferably amino-acid substitutions, such as         conservative amino-acid substitutions as compared to a VH region         sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:1, 41         and 45.

In a further embodiment, the antibody comprises a VL having

-   -   c) at least 80% identity, such as at least 90%, at least 95%, or         at least 98% or 100% identity to a VL region sequence selected         from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:57, 97 and 101, or     -   d) at most 20, such as 15, or 10, or 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 amino-acid         modifications, more preferably amino-acid substitutions, such as         conservative amino-acid substitutions as compared to a VH region         sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:57, 97         and 101.

In a further embodiment, the antibody comprises:

-   -   a) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:57,     -   b) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:41 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 97,     -   c) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:45 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:101, or     -   d) a variant of any of said antibodies, wherein said variant         preferably has at most 1, 2 or 3 amino-acid modifications, more         preferably amino-acid substitutions, such as conservative         amino-acid substitutions in said sequences.

In an even further embodiment, the antibody of the invention has an affinity to tissue factor which is less than 5 nM, such as less than 3.5 nM, e.g. less than 2 nM when determined by the method described in Example 22 herein.

A particularly interesting group of antibodies of the invention has a binding to Tissue Factor which is characterized by a normal or high avidity and a high off-rate (kd). As demonstrated herein, such antibodies may exhibit tumor specific binding in that they bind cancerous tissue, but do not bind, or bind less to healthy tissues. Without being bound by any specific theory, it is hypothesized that this group of antibodies only binds well to cells that express high levels of TF, because the binding is only efficient if it is bivalent. Examples of these antibodies include antibody 044, 098 and 111, described herein.

Accordingly, in one embodiment, the antibody of the invention has a kd of more than 10⁻³ sec⁻¹ when determined by the affinity method described in Example 22 herein, and an avidity of less than 5 nM, such as less than 1 nM, e.g. less than 0.2 nM when determined by the avidity method described in Example 22 herein.

In another embodiment, the antibody of the invention has a kd of more than 10⁻³ sec⁻¹, when determined by the affinity method described in Example 22 herein and/or a ka of more than 5×10⁴, Mol⁻¹ sec⁻¹ when determined by the affinity method described in Example 22 herein.

In a further embodiment, the antibody exhibits no binding to healthy tissue, in particular no binding to human glomeruli, e.g. as determined in the assay described in Example 23, but does exhibit binding to pancreatic tumors, e.g. as determined in the assay described in Example 23 herein.

In an even further embodiment, the antibody is effective in inhibiting growth of established BX-PC3 tumors when determined by the method described in Example 26 herein.

In another embodiment, the antibody of the invention has one or more of the following properties: inhibition of proliferation, inhibition of tumor angiogenesis, induction of apoptosis of tumor cells, binding to alternatively spliced Tissue Factor.

In a further embodiment, the antibody of the invention competes for Tissue Factor binding with an antibody comprising

-   -   a) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:9 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 65,     -   b) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:57,     -   c) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:5 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:61,     -   d) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:13 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:69,     -   e) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:17 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:73,     -   f) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:21 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:77,     -   g) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:25 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:81,     -   h) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:29 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:85,     -   i) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:33 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:89,     -   j) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:37 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:93,     -   k) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:41 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 97,     -   l) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:45 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:101,     -   m) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:49 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:105, or     -   n) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:53 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:109

In a further embodiment, the antibody of the invention binds to the same epitope on Tissue Factor as an antibody having:

-   -   a) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:9 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 65,     -   b) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:57,     -   c) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:5 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:61,     -   d) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:13 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:69,     -   e) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:17 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:73,     -   f) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:21 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:77,     -   g) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:25 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:81,     -   h) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:29 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:85,     -   i) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:33 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:89,     -   j) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:37 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:93,     -   k) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:41 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 97,     -   l) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:45 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:101,     -   m) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:49 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:105, or     -   n) a VH region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:53 and a VL         region comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:109.

In a further embodiment, the antibody of the invention comprises:

-   -   a heavy chain variable region derived from a human germline V H         sequence selected from the group consisting of: IGHV1-18*01,         IGHV3-23*01, IGHV3-30*01, IGHV3-33*01, IGHV3-33*03, IGHV1-69*02,         IGHV1-69*04 and IGHV5-51*01 and/or     -   a light chain variable region derived from a human germline Vic         sequence selected from the group consisting of: IGKV3-20*01,         IGKV1-13*02, IGKV3-11*01, and IGKV1D-16*01.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a monoclonal anti-TF antibody comprising a VH region having the sequence as set forth in seq id no 9, 1, 5, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, 37, 41, 45, 49 or 53, or a variant of any of said sequences, such as a variant having at most 25 amino acid modifications, such 20, such as at most 15, 14, 13, 12 or 11 amino acid modifications, such as 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 amino-acid modifications, such as deletions or insertions, preferably substitutions, such as conservative substitutions.

The variant of the sequence as set forth in seq id no 9, 1, 5, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, 37, 41, 49 or 53 may have at least 80% identity to any of said sequences, such as at least 85% identity or 90% identity or 95% identity, such as 96% identity or 97% identity or 98% identity or 99% identity.

In an aspect of the invention the isolated monoclonal anti-TF antibody comprises a VL sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 65, 57, 61, 69, 73, 77, 81, 85, 89, 93, 97, 101, or 105 or a variant of any of said sequences, such as a variant having at most 25 amino acid modifications, such 20, such as at most 15, 14, 13, 12 or 11 amino acid modifications, such as 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 amino-acid modifications, such as deletions or insertions, preferably substitutions, such as conservative substitutions.

The variant of the sequence as set forth in seq id no 65, 57, 61, 69, 73, 77, 81, 85, 89, 93, 97, 101, or 105 may have at least 80% identity to any of said sequences, such as at least 85% identity or 90% identity or 95% identity, such as 96% identity or 97% identity or 98% identity or 99% identity.

In another embodiment, the antibody comprises

-   -   a) a VL region having the sequence selected from the group         consisting of SEQ ID No: 65, 57, 61, 69, 73, 77, 81, 85, 89, 93,         97, 101, or 105 and a VH region having a sequence selected from         the group consisting of SEQ ID No: 9, 1, 5, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29,         33, 37, 41, 49 or 53,     -   b) a variant of any of the above, wherein said variant         preferably only has conservative substitutions in said         sequences.

In a preferred embodiment the antibody comprises a VL region having the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID No: 65 and a VH region having the sequence as set forth SEQ ID No: 9, or a variant of any of the two sequences, the variants having either

-   -   a) at most 25 amino acid modifications, such 20, such as at most         15, 14, 13, 12 or 11 amino acid modifications, such as 10, 9, 8,         7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 amino-acid modifications, such as         deletions or insertions, preferably substitutions, such as         conservative substitutions, or     -   b) at least 80% identity to SEQ ID NO: 9 or SEQ ID NO: 65         respectively, such as at least 85% identity or 90% identity or         95% identity, such as 96% identity or 97% identity or 98%         identity or 99% identity.

In another preferred embodiment the antibody comprises a VL region having the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID No: 57 and a VH region having the sequence as set forth SEQ ID No: 1, or a variant of any of the two sequences, the variants having either

-   -   a) at most 25 amino acid modifications, such 20, such as at most         15, 14, 13, 12 or 11 amino acid modifications, such as 10, 9, 8,         7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 amino-acid modifications, such as         deletions or insertions, preferably substitutions, such as         conservative substitutions, or     -   b) at least 80% identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 57         respectively, such as at least 85% identity or 90% identity or         95% identity, such as 96% identity or 97% identity or 98%         identity or 99% identity.

In another preferred embodiment the antibody comprises a VL region having the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID No: 61 and a VH region having the sequence as set forth SEQ ID No: 5, or a variant of any of the two sequences, the variants having either

-   -   a) at most 25 amino acid modifications, such 20, such as at most         15, 14, 13, 12 or 11 amino acid modifications, such as 10, 9, 8,         7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 amino-acid modifications, such as         deletions or insertions, preferably substitutions, such as         conservative substitutions, or     -   b) at least 80% identity to SEQ ID NO: 5 or SEQ ID NO: 61         respectively, such as at least 85% identity or 90% identity or         95% identity, such as 96% identity or 97% identity or 98%         identity or 99% identity.

In another preferred embodiment the antibody comprises a VL region having the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID No: 69 and a VH region having the sequence as set forth SEQ ID No: 13, or a variant of any of the two sequences, the variants having either

-   -   a) at most 25 amino acid modifications, such 20, such as at most         15, 14, 13, 12 or 11 amino acid modifications, such as 10, 9, 8,         7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 amino-acid modifications, such as         deletions or insertions, preferably substitutions, such as         conservative substitutions, or     -   b) at least 80% identity to SEQ ID NO: 13 or SEQ ID NO: 69         respectively, such as at least 85% identity or 90% identity or         95% identity, such as 96% identity or 97% identity or 98%         identity or 99% identity.

In another preferred embodiment the antibody comprises a VL region having the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID No: 73 and a VH region having the sequence as set forth SEQ ID No: 17, or a variant of any of the two sequences, the variants having either

-   -   a) at most 25 amino acid modifications, such 20, such as at most         15, 14, 13, 12 or 11 amino acid modifications, such as 10, 9, 8,         7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 amino-acid modifications, such as         deletions or insertions, preferably substitutions, such as         conservative substitutions, or     -   b) at least 80% identity to SEQ ID NO: 17 or SEQ ID NO: 73         respectively, such as at least 85% identity or 90% identity or         95% identity, such as 96% identity or 97% identity or 98%         identity or 99% identity.

In another preferred embodiment the antibody comprises a VL region having the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID No: 77 and a VH region having the sequence as set forth SEQ ID No: 21, or a variant of any of the two sequences, the variants having either

-   -   a) at most 25 amino acid modifications, such 20, such as at most         15, 14, 13, 12 or 11 amino acid modifications, such as 10, 9, 8,         7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 amino-acid modifications, such as         deletions or insertions, preferably substitutions, such as         conservative substitutions, or     -   b) at least 80% identity to SEQ ID NO: 21 or SEQ ID NO: 77         respectively, such as at least 85% identity or 90% identity or         95% identity, such as 96% identity or 97% identity or 98%         identity or 99% identity.

In another preferred embodiment the antibody comprises a VL region having the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID No: 81 and a VH region having the sequence as set forth SEQ ID No: 25, or a variant of any of the two sequences, the variants having either

-   -   a) at most 25 amino acid modifications, such 20, such as at most         15, 14, 13, 12 or 11 amino acid modifications, such as 10, 9, 8,         7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 amino-acid modifications, such as         deletions or insertions, preferably substitutions, such as         conservative substitutions, or     -   b) at least 80% identity to SEQ ID NO: 25 or SEQ ID NO: 81         respectively, such as at least 85% identity or 90% identity or         95% identity, such as 96% identity or 97% identity or 98%         identity or 99% identity.

In another preferred embodiment the antibody comprises a VL region having the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID No: 85 and a VH region having the sequence as set forth SEQ ID No: 29, or a variant of any of the two sequences, the variants having either

-   -   a) at most 25 amino acid modifications, such 20, such as at most         15, 14, 13, 12 or 11 amino acid modifications, such as 10, 9, 8,         7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 amino-acid modifications, such as         deletions or insertions, preferably substitutions, such as         conservative substitutions, or     -   b) at least 80% identity to SEQ ID NO: 29 or SEQ ID NO: 85         respectively, such as at least 85% identity or 90% identity or         95% identity, such as 96% identity or 97% identity or 98%         identity or 99% identity.

In another preferred embodiment the antibody comprises a VL region having the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID No: 89 and a VH region having the sequence as set forth SEQ ID No: 33, or a variant of any of the two sequences, the variants having either

-   -   a) at most 25 amino acid modifications, such 20, such as at most         15, 14, 13, 12 or 11 amino acid modifications, such as 10, 9, 8,         7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 amino-acid modifications, such as         deletions or insertions, preferably substitutions, such as         conservative substitutions, or     -   b) at least 80% identity to SEQ ID NO: 33 or SEQ ID NO: 89         respectively, such as at least 85% identity or 90% identity or         95% identity, such as 96% identity or 97% identity or 98%         identity or 99% identity.

In another preferred embodiment the antibody comprises a VL region having the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID No: 93 and a VH region having the sequence as set forth SEQ ID No: 37, or a variant of any of the two sequences, the variants having either

-   -   a) at most 25 amino acid modifications, such 20, such as at most         15, 14, 13, 12 or 11 amino acid modifications, such as 10, 9, 8,         7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 amino-acid modifications, such as         deletions or insertions, preferably substitutions, such as         conservative substitutions, or     -   b) at least 80% identity to SEQ ID NO: 37 or SEQ ID NO: 93         respectively, such as at least 85% identity or 90% identity or         95% identity, such as 96% identity or 97% identity or 98%         identity or 99% identity.

In another preferred embodiment the antibody comprises a VL region having the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID No: 97 and a VH region having the sequence as set forth SEQ ID No: 41, or a variant of any of the two sequences, the variants having either

-   -   a) at most 25 amino acid modifications, such 20, such as at most         15, 14, 13, 12 or 11 amino acid modifications, such as 10, 9, 8,         7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 amino-acid modifications, such as         deletions or insertions, preferably substitutions, such as         conservative substitutions, or     -   b) at least 80% identity to SEQ ID NO: 41 or SEQ ID NO: 97         respectively, such as at least 85% identity or 90% identity or         95% identity, such as 96% identity or 97% identity or 98%         identity or 99% identity.

In another preferred embodiment the antibody comprises a VL region having the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID No: 101 and a VH region having the sequence as set forth SEQ ID No: 45, or a variant of any of the two sequences, the variants having either

-   -   a) at most 25 amino acid modifications, such 20, such as at most         15, 14, 13, 12 or 11 amino acid modifications, such as 10, 9, 8,         7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 amino-acid modifications, such as         deletions or insertions, preferably substitutions, such as         conservative substitutions, or     -   b) at least 80% identity to SEQ ID NO: 45 or SEQ ID NO: 101         respectively, such as at least 85% identity or 90% identity or         95% identity, such as 96% identity or 97% identity or 98%         identity or 99% identity.

In another preferred embodiment the antibody comprises a VL region having the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID No: 105 and a VH region having the sequence as set forth SEQ ID No: 49, or a variant of any of the two sequences, the variants having either

-   -   a) at most 25 amino acid modifications, such 20, such as at most         15, 14, 13, 12 or 11 amino acid modifications, such as 10, 9, 8,         7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 amino-acid modifications, such as         deletions or insertions, preferably substitutions, such as         conservative substitutions, or     -   b) at least 80% identity to SEQ ID NO: 49 or SEQ ID NO: 105         respectively, such as at least 85% identity or 90% identity or         95% identity, such as 96% identity or 97% identity or 98%         identity or 99% identity.

In another preferred embodiment the antibody comprises a VL region having the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID No: 109 and a VH region having the sequence as set forth SEQ ID No: 53, or a variant of any of the two sequences, the variants having either

-   -   a) at most 25 amino acid modifications, such 20, such as at most         15, 14, 13, 12 or 11 amino acid modifications, such as 10, 9, 8,         7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 amino-acid modifications, such as         deletions or insertions, preferably substitutions, such as         conservative substitutions, or     -   b) at least 80% identity to SEQ ID NO: 53 or SEQ ID NO: 109         respectively, such as at least 85% identity or 90% identity or         95% identity, such as 96% identity or 97% identity or 98%         identity or 99% identity.

Monoclonal antibodies of the present invention may e.g. be produced by the hybridoma method first described by Kohler et al., Nature 256, 495 (1975), or may be produced by recombinant DNA methods. Monoclonal antibodies may also be isolated from phage antibody libraries using the techniques described in, for example, Clackson et al., Nature 352, 624-628 (1991) and Marks et al., J. Mol. Biol. 222, 581-597 (1991). Monoclonal antibodies may be obtained from any suitable source. Thus, for example, monoclonal antibodies may be obtained from hybridomas prepared from murine splenic B cells obtained from mice immunized with an antigen of interest, for instance in form of cells expressing the antigen on the surface, or a nucleic acid encoding an antigen of interest. Monoclonal antibodies may also be obtained from hybridomas derived from antibody-expressing cells of immunized humans or non-human mammals such as rats, rabbits, dogs, primates, etc.

In one embodiment, the antibody of the invention is a human antibody. Human monoclonal antibodies directed against tissue factor may be generated using transgenic or transchromosomal mice carrying parts of the human immune system rather than the mouse system. Such transgenic and transchromosomic mice include mice referred to herein as HuMAb mice and KM mice, respectively, and are collectively referred to herein as “transgenic mice”.

The HuMAb mouse contains a human immunoglobulin gene miniloci that encodes unrearranged human heavy variable and constant (μ and γ) and light variable and constant (κ) chain immunoglobulin sequences, together with targeted mutations that inactivate the endogenous μ and κ chain loci (Lonberg, N. et al., Nature 368, 856-859 (1994)). Accordingly, the mice exhibit reduced expression of mouse IgM or κ and in response to immunization, the introduced human heavy and light chain transgenes, undergo class switching and somatic mutation to generate high affinity human IgG,κ monoclonal antibodies (Lonberg, N. et al. (1994), supra; reviewed in Lonberg, N. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology 113, 49-101 (1994), Lonberg, N. and Huszar, D., Intern. Rev. Immunol. Vol. 13 65-93 (1995) and Harding, F. and Lonberg, N. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci 764 536-546 (1995)). The preparation of HuMAb mice is described in detail in Taylor, L. et al., Nucleic Acids Research 20, 6287-6295 (1992), Chen, J. et al., International Immunology 5, 647-656 (1993), Tuaillon et al., J. Immunol. 152, 2912-2920 (1994), Taylor, L. et al., International Immunology 6, 579-591 (1994), Fishwild, D. et al., Nature Biotechnology 14, 845-851 (1996). See also U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,545,806, 5,569,825, 5,625,126, US U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,789,650, 5,877,397, 5,661,016, 5,814,318, 5,874,299, US U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,807, WO 98/24884, WO 94/25585, WO 93/1227, WO 92/22645, WO 92/03918 and WO 01/09187.

The HCo7 mice have a JKD disruption in their endogenous light chain (kappa) genes (as described in Chen et al., EMBO J. 12, 821-830 (1993)), a CMD disruption in their endogenous heavy chain genes (as described in Example 1 of WO 01/14424), a KCo5 human kappa light chain transgene (as described in Fishwild et al., Nature Biotechnology 14, 845-851 (1996)), and a HCo7 human heavy chain transgene (as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,770,429).

The HCo12 mice have a JKD disruption in their endogenous light chain (kappa) genes (as described in Chen et al., EMBO J. 12, 821-830 (1993)), a CMD disruption in their endogenous heavy chain genes (as described in Example 1 of WO 01/14424), a KCo5 human kappa light chain transgene (as described in Fishwild et al., Nature Biotechnology 14, 845-851 (1996)), and a HCo12 human heavy chain transgene (as described in Example 2 of WO 01/14424).

In the KM mouse strain, the endogenous mouse kappa light chain gene has been homozygously disrupted as described in Chen et al., EMBO J. 12, 811-820 (1993) and the endogenous mouse heavy chain gene has been homozygously disrupted as described in Example 1 of WO 01/09187. This mouse strain carries a human kappa light chain transgene, KCo5, as described in Fishwild et al., Nature Biotechnology 14, 845-851 (1996). This mouse strain also carries a human heavy chain transchromosome composed of chromosome 14 fragment hCF (SC20) as described in WO 02/43478.

Splenocytes from these transgenic mice may be used to generate hybridomas that secrete human monoclonal antibodies according to well known techniques. Human monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies of the present invention, or antibodies of the present invention originating from other species may also be generated transgenically through the generation of another non-human mammal or plant that is transgenic for the immunoglobulin heavy and light chain sequences of interest and production of the antibody in a recoverable form therefrom. In connection with the transgenic production in mammals, antibodies may be produced in, and recovered from, the milk of goats, cows, or other mammals See for instance U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,827,690, 5,750,172 and 5,741,957.

Further, human antibodies of the present invention or antibodies of the present invention from other species may be generated through display-type technologies, including, without limitation, phage display, retroviral display, ribosomal display, and other techniques, using techniques well known in the art and the resulting molecules may be subjected to additional maturation, such as affinity maturation, as such techniques are well known in the art (see for instance Hoogenboom et al., J. Mol. Biol. 227, 381 (1991) (phage display), Vaughan et al., Nature Biotech 14, 309 (1996) (phage display), Hanes and Plucthau, PNAS USA 94, 4937-4942 (1997) (ribosomal display), Parmley and Smith, Gene 73, 305-318 (1988) (phage display), Scott TIBS 17, 241-245 (1992), Cwirla et al., PNAS USA 87, 6378-6382 (1990), Russel et al., Nucl. Acids Research 21, 1081-1085 (1993), Hogenboom et al., Immunol. Reviews 130, 43-68 (1992), Chiswell and McCafferty TIBTECH 10, 80-84 (1992), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,733,743). If display technologies are utilized to produce antibodies that are not human, such antibodies may be humanized.

The antibody of the invention may be of any isotype. The choice of isotype typically will be guided by the desired effector functions, such as ADCC induction. Exemplary isotypes are IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4. Either of the human light chain constant regions, kappa or lambda, may be used. If desired, the class of an anti-TF antibody of the present invention may be switched by known methods. For example, an antibody of the present invention that was originally IgM may be class switched to an IgG antibody of the present invention. Further, class switching techniques may be used to convert one IgG subclass to another, for instance from IgG1 to IgG2. Thus, the effector function of the antibodies of the present invention may be changed by isotype switching to, e.g., an IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgD, IgA, IgE, or IgM antibody for various therapeutic uses. In one embodiment an antibody of the present invention is an IgG1 antibody, for instance an IgG1,κ.

In one embodiment, the antibody of the invention is a full-length antibody, preferably an IgG1 antibody, in particular an IgG1,κ antibody. In another embodiment, the antibody of the invention is an antibody fragment or a single-chain antibody.

Antibodies fragments may e.g. be obtained by fragmentation using conventional techniques, and the fragments screened for utility in the same manner as described herein for whole antibodies. For example, F(ab′)₂ fragments may be generated by treating antibody with pepsin. The resulting F(ab′)₂ fragment may be treated to reduce disulfide bridges to produce Fab′ fragments. Fab fragments may be obtained by treating an IgG antibody with papain; Fab′ fragments may be obtained with pepsin digestion of IgG antibody. An F(ab′) fragment may also be produced by binding Fab′ described below via a thioether bond or a disulfide bond. A Fab′ fragment is an antibody fragment obtained by cutting a disulfide bond of the hinge region of the F(ab′)₂. A Fab′ fragment may be obtained by treating an F(ab′)₂ fragment with a reducing agent, such as dithiothreitol. Antibody fragment may also be generated by expression of nucleic acids encoding such fragments in recombinant cells (see for instance Evans et al., J. Immunol. Meth. 184, 123-38 (1995)). For example, a chimeric gene encoding a portion of an F(ab′)₂ fragment could include DNA sequences encoding the C_(H)1 domain and hinge region of the H chain, followed by a translational stop codon to yield such a truncated antibody fragment molecule.

In one embodiment, the anti-TF antibody is a monovalent antibody, preferably a monovalent antibody as described in WO2007059782 (Genmab) (incorporated herein by reference) having a deletion of the hinge region. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the antibody is a monovalent antibody, wherein said anti-TF antibody is constructed by a method comprising:

-   -   i) providing a nucleic acid construct encoding the light chain         of said monovalent antibody, said construct comprising a         nucleotide sequence encoding the VL region of a selected antigen         specific anti-TF antibody and a nucleotide sequence encoding the         constant CL region of an Ig, wherein said nucleotide sequence         encoding the VL region of a selected antigen specific antibody         and said nucleotide sequence encoding the CL region of an Ig are         operably linked together, and wherein, in case of an IgG1         subtype, the nucleotide sequence encoding the CL region has been         modified such that the CL region does not contain any amino         acids capable of forming disulfide bonds or covalent bonds with         other peptides comprising an identical amino acid sequence of         the CL region in the presence of polyclonal human IgG or when         administered to an animal or human being;     -   ii) providing a nucleic acid construct encoding the heavy chain         of said monovalent antibody, said construct comprising a         nucleotide sequence encoding the VH region of a selected antigen         specific antibody and a nucleotide sequence encoding a constant         CH region of a human Ig, wherein the nucleotide sequence         encoding the CH region has been modified such that the region         corresponding to the hinge region and, as required by the Ig         subtype, other regions of the CH region, such as the CH3 region,         does not comprise any amino acid residues which participate in         the formation of disulphide bonds or covalent or stable         non-covalent inter-heavy chain bonds with other peptides         comprising an identical amino acid sequence of the CH region of         the human Ig in the presence of polyclonal human IgG or when         administered to an animal human being, wherein said nucleotide         sequence encoding the VH region of a selected antigen specific         antibody and said nucleotide sequence encoding the CH region of         said Ig are operably linked together;     -   iii) providing a cell expression system for producing said         monovalent antibody;     -   iv) producing said monovalent antibody by co-expressing the         nucleic acid constructs of (i) and (ii) in cells of the cell         expression system of (iii).

Similarly, in one embodiment, the anti-TF antibody is a monovalent antibody, which comprises

-   -   (i) a variable region of an antibody of the invention as         described herein or an antigen binding part of the said region,         and     -   (ii) a C_(H) region of an immunoglobulin or a fragment thereof         comprising the C_(H)2 and C_(H)3 regions, wherein the C_(H)         region or fragment thereof has been modified such that the         region corresponding to the hinge region and, if the         immunoglobulin is not an IgG4 subtype, other regions of the         C_(H) region, such as the C_(H)3 region, do not comprise any         amino acid residues, which are capable of forming disulfide         bonds with an identical C_(H) region or other covalent or stable         non-covalent inter-heavy chain bonds with an identical C_(H)         region in the presence of polyclonal human IgG.

In a further embodiment, the heavy chain of the monovalent anti-TF antibody has been modified such that the entire hinge has been deleted.

In a further embodiment, said monovalent antibody is of the IgG4 subtype (see SEQ ID NO: 114, a hinge-less variant of SEQ ID NO:113), but the C_(H)3 region has been modified so that one or more of the following amino acid substitutions have been made: Thr (T) in position 234 has been replaced by Ala (A); Leu (L) in position 236 has been replaced by Ala (A); Leu (L) in position 236 has been replaced by Val (V); Phe (F) in position 273 has been replaced by Ala (A); Phe (F) in position 273 has been replaced by Leu (L); Tyr (Y) in position 275 has been replaced by Ala (A).

In another further embodiment, the sequence of said monovalent antibody has been modified so that it does not comprise any acceptor sites for N-linked glycosylation.

Anti-TF antibodies of the invention also include single chain antibodies. Single chain antibodies are peptides in which the heavy and light chain Fv regions are connected. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a single-chain Fv (scFv) wherein the heavy and light chains in the Fv of an anti-TF antibody of the present invention are joined with a flexible peptide linker (typically of about 10, 12, 15 or more amino acid residues) in a single peptide chain. Methods of producing such antibodies are described in for instance U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,778, Pluckthun in The Pharmacology of Monoclonal Antibodies, vol. 113, Rosenburg and Moore eds. Springer-Verlag, New York, pp. 269-315 (1994), Bird et al., Science 242, 423-426 (1988), Huston et al., PNAS USA 85, 5879-5883 (1988) and McCafferty et al., Nature 348, 552-554 (1990). The single chain antibody may be monovalent, if only a single V_(H) and V_(L) are used, bivalent, if two V_(H) and V_(L) are used, or polyvalent, if more than two V_(H) and V_(L) are used.

In one embodiment, the anti-TF antibody of the invention is an effector-function-deficient antibody. Such antibodies are particularly useful when the antibody is for use in stimulation of the immune system through blocking of the inhibitory effects of TF. For such applications, it may be advantages that the antibody has no effector functions, such as ADCC, as they may lead to undesired cytotoxicity.

In one embodiment, the effector-function-deficient anti-TF antibody is a stabilized IgG4 antibody. Examples of suitable stabilized IgG4 antibodies are antibodies, wherein arginine at position 409 in a heavy chain constant region of human IgG4, which is indicated in the EU index as in Kabat et al., is substituted with lysine, threonine, methionine, or leucine, preferably lysine (described in WO2006033386 (Kirin)) and/or wherein the hinge region comprises a Cys-Pro-Pro-Cys sequence.

In a further embodiment. the stabilized IgG4 anti-TF antibody is an IgG4 antibody comprising a heavy chain and a light chain, wherein said heavy chain comprises a human IgG4 constant region having a residue selected from the group consisting of: Lys, Ala, Thr, Met and Leu at the position corresponding to 409 and/or a residue selected from the group consisting of: Ala, Val, Gly, Ile and Leu at the position corresponding to 405, and wherein said antibody optionally comprises one or more further substitutions, deletions and/or insertions, but does not comprise a Cys-Pro-Pro-Cys sequence in the hinge region. Preferably, said antibody comprises a Lys or Ala residue at the position corresponding to 409 or the CH3 region of the antibody has been replaced by the CH3 region of human IgG1, of human IgG2 or of human IgG3.

In an even further embodiment. the stabilized IgG4 anti-TF antibody is an IgG4 antibody comprising a heavy chain and a light chain, wherein said heavy chain comprises a human IgG4 constant region having a residue selected from the group consisting of: Lys, Ala, Thr, Met and Leu at the position corresponding to 409 and/or a residue selected from the group consisting of: Ala, Val, Gly, Ile and Leu at the position corresponding to 405, and wherein said antibody optionally comprises one or more further substitutions, deletions and/or insertions and wherein said antibody comprises a Cys-Pro-Pro-Cys sequence in the hinge region. Preferably, said antibody comprises a Lys or Ala residue at the position corresponding to 409 or the CH3 region of the antibody has been replaced by the CH3 region of human IgG1, of human IgG2 or of human IgG3.

In a further embodiment, the effector-function-deficient anti-TF antibody is an antibody of a non-IgG4 type, e.g. IgG1, IgG2 or IgG3 which has been mutated such that the ability to mediate effector functions, such as ADCC, has been reduced or even eliminated. Such mutations have e.g. been described in Dall'Acqua W F et al., J Immunol. 177(2):1129-1138 (2006) and Hezareh M, J Virol.; 75(24):12161-12168 (2001).

In a further embodiment, the antibody of the invention is conjugated to another moiety, such as a cytotoxic moiety, a radioisotope or a drug. Such antibodies may be produced by chemically conjugating the other moiety to the N-terminal side or C-terminal side of the anti-TF antibody or fragment thereof (e.g., an anti-TF antibody H chain, L chain, or anti-TF specific/selective fragment thereof) (see, e.g., Antibody Engineering Handbook, edited by Osamu Kanemitsu, published by Chijin Shokan (1994)). Such conjugated antibody derivatives may also be generated by conjugation at internal residues or sugars, where appropriate.

In general, anti-TF antibodies described herein may be modified by inclusion of any suitable number of such modified amino acids and/or associations with such conjugated substituents. Suitability in this context is generally determined by the ability to at least substantially retain TF selectivity and/or specificity associated with the non-derivatized parent anti-TF antibody. The inclusion of one or more modified amino acids may be advantageous in, for example, increasing polypeptide serum half-life, reducing polypeptide antigenicity, or increasing polypeptide storage stability. Amino acid(s) are modified, for example, co-translationally or post-translationally during recombinant production (e. g., N-linked glycosylation at N-X-S/T motifs during expression in mammalian cells) or modified by synthetic means. Non-limiting examples of a modified amino acid include a glycosylated amino acid, a sulfated amino acid, a prenylated (e. g., farnesylated, geranylgeranylated) amino acid, an acetylated amino acid, an acylated amino acid, a PEGylated amino acid, a biotinylated amino acid, a carboxylated amino acid, a phosphorylated amino acid, and the like. References adequate to guide one of skill in the modification of amino acids are replete throughout the literature. Example protocols are found in Walker (1998) Protein Protocols On Cd-Rom, Humana Press, Towata, NJ. The modified amino acid may for instance be selected from a glycosylated amino acid, a PEGylated amino acid, a farnesylated amino acid, an acetylated amino acid, a biotinylated amino acid, an amino acid conjugated to a lipid moiety, or an amino acid conjugated to an organic derivatizing agent.

Anti-TF antibodies may also be chemically modified by covalent conjugation to a polymer to for instance increase their circulating half-life. Exemplary polymers, and methods to attach them to peptides, are illustrated in for instance U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,766,106, 4,179,337, 4,495,285 and 4,609,546. Additional illustrative polymers include polyoxyethylated polyols and polyethylene glycol (PEG) (e.g., a PEG with a molecular weight of between about 1,000 and about 40,000, such as between about 2,000 and about 20,000, e.g., about 3,000-12,000 g/mol).

In one embodiment, the present invention provides an anti-TF antibody that is conjugated to a second molecule that is selected from a radionuclide, an enzyme, an enzyme substrate, a cofactor, a fluorescent marker, a chemiluminescent marker, a peptide tag, or a magnetic particle. In one embodiment, an anti-TF antibody may be conjugated to one or more antibody fragments, nucleic acids (oligonucleotides), nucleases, hormones, immunomodulators, chelators, boron compounds, photoactive agents, dyes, and the like. These and other suitable agents may be coupled either directly or indirectly to an anti-TF antibody of the present invention. One example of indirect coupling of a second agent is coupling by a spacer moiety. These spacers, in turn, may be either insoluble or soluble (see for instance Diener et al., Science 231, 148 (1986)) and may be selected to enable drug release from the anti-TF antibody at a target site and/or under particular conditions. Additional examples of agents that may be coupled to an anti-TF antibody include lectins and fluorescent peptides.

In one embodiment, anti-TF antibodies comprising one or more radiolabeled amino acids are provided. A radiolabeled anti-TF antibody may be used for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes (conjugation to radiolabeled molecules is another possible feature). Nonlimiting examples of labels for polypeptides include, but are not limited to 3H, 14C, 15N, 35S, 90Y, 99Tc, and 125I, 131I, and 186Re. Methods for preparing radiolabeled amino acids and related peptide derivatives are known in the art (see for instance Junghans et al., in Cancer Chemotherapy and Biotherapy 655-686 (2d edition, Chafner and Longo, eds., Lippincott Raven (1996)) and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,681,581, 4,735,210, 5,101,827, U.S. Pat. No. 5,102,990 (U.S. RE35,500), U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,648,471 and 5,697,902. For example, a radioisotope may be conjugated by a chloramine T method.

In one embodiment, an anti-TF antibody of the invention comprises a conjugated nucleic acid or nucleic acid-associated molecule. In one such facet of the present invention, the conjugated nucleic acid is a cytotoxic ribonuclease. In one embodiment, the conjugated nucleic acid is an antisense nucleic acid (for instance a S100A10 targeted antisense molecule, which may also be an independent component in a combination composition or combination administration method of the present invention—see for instance Zhang et al., J Biol Chem. 279(3), 2053-62 (2004)). In one embodiment, the conjugated nucleic acid is an inhibitory RNA molecule (e.g., a siRNA molecule). In one embodiment, the conjugated nucleic acid is an immunostimulatory nucleic acid (e.g., an immunostimulatory CpG motif-containing DNA molecule). In one embodiment, the conjugated nucleic acid is an expression cassette coding for expression of a tumor suppressor gene, anti-cancer vaccine, anti-cancer cytokine, or apoptotic agent. Such derivatives also may comprise conjugation of a nucleic acid coding for expression of one or more cytotoxic proteins, such as plant and bacterial toxins.

In one embodiment, an anti-TF antibody is conjugated to a functional nucleic acid molecule. Functional nucleic acids include antisense molecules, interfering nucleic acid molecules (e.g., siRNA molecules), aptamers, ribozymes, triplex forming molecules, and external guide sequences. The functional nucleic acid molecules may act as effectors, inhibitors, modulators, and stimulators of a specific activity possessed by a target molecule, or the functional nucleic acid molecules may possess a de novo activity independent of any other molecules.

In another embodiment, an anti-TF antibody of the invention is conjugated to an aptamer.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides an anti-TF antibody which is conjugated to a ribozyme.

Any method known in the art for conjugating the anti-TF antibody to the conjugated molecule(s), such as those described above, may be employed, including those methods described by Hunter et al., Nature 144, 945 (1962), David et al., Biochemistry 13, 1014 (1974), Pain et al., J. Immunol. Meth. 40, 219 (1981) and Nygren, J. Histochem. and Cytochem. 30, 407 (1982). Numerous types of cytotoxic compounds may be joined to proteins through the use of a reactive group on the cytotoxic compound or through the use of a cross-linking agent. A common reactive group that will form a stable covalent bond in vivo with an amine is isothiocyanate (Means et al., Chemical modifications of proteins (Holden-Day, San Francisco 1971) pp. 105-110). This group preferentially reacts with the ε-amine group of lysine. Maleimide is a commonly used reactive group to form a stable in vivo covalent bond with the sulfhydryl group on cysteine (Ji., Methods Enzymol 91, 580-609 (1983)). Monoclonal antibodies typically are incapable of forming covalent bonds with radiometal ions, but they may be attached to the antibody indirectly through the use of chelating agents that are covalently linked to the antibodies. Chelating agents may be attached through amines (Meares et al., Anal. Biochem. 142, 68-78 (1984)) and sulfhydryl groups (Koyama, Chem. Abstr. 120, 217262t (1994)) of amino acid residues and also through carbohydrate groups (Rodwell et al., PNAS USA 83, 2632-2636 (1986), Quadri et al., Nucl. Med. Biol. 20, 559-570 (1993)). Since these chelating agents contain two types of functional groups, one to bind metal ions and the other to joining the chelate to the antibody, they are commonly referred as bifunctional chelating agents (Sundberg et al., Nature 250, 587-588 (1974)).

In one embodiment, the present invention provides an anti-TF antibody, such as a human anti-TF antibody, conjugated to a therapeutic moiety, such as a cytotoxin, a chemotherapeutic drug, an immunosuppressant, or a radioisotope. Such conjugates are referred to herein as “immunoconjugates” Immunoconjugates which include one or more cytotoxins are referred to as “immunotoxins”.

A cytotoxin or cytotoxic agent includes any agent that is detrimental to (e.g., kills) cells. For a description of these classes of drugs which are well known in the art, and their mechanisms of action, see Goodman et al., Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis Of Therapeutics, 8th Ed., Macmillan Publishing Co., 1990. Additional techniques relevant to the preparation of antibody immunotoxins are provided in for instance Vitetta, Immunol. Today 14, 252 (1993) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,194,594.

Suitable therapeutic agents for forming immunoconjugates of the present invention include taxol, cytochalasin B, gramicidin D, ethidium bromide, emetine, mitomycin, etoposide, tenoposide, vincristine, vinblastine, colchicin, doxorubicin, daunorubicin, dihydroxy anthracin dione, mitoxantrone, mithramycin, actinomycin D, 1-dehydrotestosterone, glucocorticoids, procaine, tetracaine, lidocaine, propranolol, and puromycin, antimetabolites (such as methotrexate, 6-mercaptopurine, 6-thioguanine, cytarabine, fludarabin, 5-fluorouracil, decarbazine, hydroxyurea, asparaginase, gemcitabine, cladribine), alkylating agents (such as mechlorethamine, thioepa, chlorambucil, melphalan, carmustine (BSNU), lomustine (CCNU), cyclophosphamide, busulfan, dibromomannitol, streptozotocin, dacarbazine (DTIC), procarbazine, mitomycin C, cisplatin and other platinum derivatives, such as carboplatin), antibiotics (such as dactinomycin (formerly actinomycin), bleomycin, daunorubicin (formerly daunomycin), doxorubicin, idarubicin, mithramycin, mitomycin, mitoxantrone, plicamycin, anthramycin (AMC)), diphtheria toxin and related molecules (such as diphtheria A chain and active fragments thereof and hybrid molecules), ricin toxin (such as ricin A or a deglycosylated ricin A chain toxin), cholera toxin, a Shiga-like toxin (SLT-I, SLT-II, SLT-IIV), LT toxin, C3 toxin, Shiga toxin, pertussis toxin, tetanus toxin, soybean Bowman-Birk protease inhibitor, Pseudomonas exotoxin, alorin, saporin, modeccin, gelanin, abrin A chain, modeccin A chain, alpha-sarcin, Aleurites fordii proteins, dianthin proteins, Phytolacca americana proteins (PAPI, PAPII, and PAP-S), Momordica charantia inhibitor, curcin, crotin, Sapaonaria officinalis inhibitor, gelonin, mitogellin, restrictocin, phenomycin, and enomycin toxins. Other suitable conjugated molecules include ribonuclease (RNase), DNase I, Staphylococcal enterotoxin-A, pokeweed antiviral protein, diphtherin toxin, and Pseudomonas endotoxin. See, for example, Pastan et al., Cell 47, 641 (1986) and Goldenberg, Calif. A Cancer Journal for Clinicians 44, 43 (1994). Therapeutic agents, which may be administered in combination with a an anti-TF antibody of the present invention as described elsewhere herein, may also be candidates for therapeutic moieties useful for conjugation to an anti-TF antibody of the present invention.

In one embodiment, the anti-TF antibody of the present invention is attached to a chelator linker, e.g. tiuxetan, which allows for the antibody to be conjugated to a radioisotope.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a bispecific molecule comprising an anti-TF antibody of the invention as described herein above and a second binding specificity such as a binding specificity for a human effector cell, a human Fc receptor or a T cell receptor. Or a binding specificity for another epitope of TF.

Bispecific molecules of the present invention may further include a third binding specificity, in addition to an anti-TF binding specificity and a binding specificity for a human effector cell, a human Fc receptor or a T cell receptor.

Exemplary bispecific antibody molecules of the invention comprise (i) two antibodies one with a specificity to TF and another to a second target that are conjugated together, (ii) a single antibody that has one chain specific to TF and a second chain specific to a second molecule, and (iii) a single chain antibody that has specificity to TF and a second molecule. Typically, the second target/second molecule is a molecule other than TF. In one embodiment, the second molecule is a cancer antigen/tumor-associated antigen such as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), prostate specific antigen (PSA), RAGE (renal antigen), α-fetoprotein, CAMEL (CTL-recognized antigen on melanoma), CT antigens (such as MAGE-B5, -B6, -C2, -C3, and D; Mage-12; CT10; NY-ESO-1, SSX-2, GAGE, BAGE, MAGE, and SAGE), mucin antigens (e.g., MUC1, mucin-CA125, etc.), ganglioside antigens, tyrosinase, gp75, C-myc, Mart1, MelanA, MUM-1, MUM-2, MUM-3, HLA-B7, and Ep-CAM. In one embodiment, the second molecule is a cancer-associated integrin, such as α5β3 integrin. In one embodiment, the second molecule is an angiogenic factor or other cancer-associated growth factor, such as a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a fibroblast growth factor (FGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), angiogenin, and receptors thereof, particularly receptors associated with cancer progression (for instance one of the HER1-HER4 receptors, c-met or RON). Other cancer progression-associated proteins discussed herein may also be suitable second molecules.

In one embodiment, a bispecific antibody of the present invention is a diabody. Bispecific antibodies also include cross-linked or “heteroconjugate” antibodies. For example, one of the antibodies in a heteroconjugate may be coupled to avidin and the other to biotin. Such antibodies have, for example, been proposed to target immune system cells to unwanted cells (see for instance U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,980). Heteroconjugate antibodies may be made using any convenient cross-linking methods.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to an expression vector encoding an antibody of the invention.

In one embodiment, the expression vector of the invention comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding one or more of the amino acid sequences selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO: 1-112.

In another particular embodiment, the expression vector of the invention comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding one or more of the VH amino acid sequences selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO: 9, 1, 5, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, 37, 41, 45, 49 and 53.

In a particular embodiment, the expression vector of the invention comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding one or more of the VH CDR3 amino acid sequences selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52 and 56.

In another particular embodiment, the expression vector of the invention comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding one or more of the VL amino acid sequences selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO: 65, 57, 61, 69, 73, 77, 81, 85, 89, 93, 97, 101 and 105.

In another embodiment, the expression vector of the invention comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding one or more of the VL CDR3 amino acid sequences selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO: 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104 and 108.

In a particular embodiment the expression vector of the invention comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding variants of one or more of the above amino acid sequences, said variants having at most 25 amino acid modifications, such 20, such as at most 15, 14, 13, 12 or 11 amino acid modifications, such as 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 amino-acid modifications, such as deletions or insertions, preferably substitutions, such as conservative substitutions or at least 80% identity to any of said sequences, such as at least 85% identity or 90% identity or 95% identity, such as 96% identity or 97% identity or 98% identity or 99% identity to any of the afore mentioned amino acid sequences.

In a further embodiment, the expression vector further comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding the constant region of a light chain, a heavy chain or both light and heavy chains of an antibody, e.g. a human antibody.

Such expression vectors may be used for recombinant production of antibodies of the invention.

An expression vector in the context of the present invention may be any suitable vector, including chromosomal, non-chromosomal, and synthetic nucleic acid vectors (a nucleic acid sequence comprising a suitable set of expression control elements). Examples of such vectors include derivatives of SV40, bacterial plasmids, phage DNA, baculovirus, yeast plasmids, vectors derived from combinations of plasmids and phage DNA, and viral nucleic acid (RNA or DNA) vectors. In one embodiment, an anti-TF antibody-encoding nucleic acid is comprised in a naked DNA or RNA vector, including, for example, a linear expression element (as described in for instance Sykes and Johnston, Nat Biotech 17, 355-59 (1997)), a compacted nucleic acid vector (as described in for instance U.S. Pat. No. 6,077,835 and/or WO 00/70087), a plasmid vector such as pBR322, pUC 19/18, or pUC 118/119, a “midge” minimally-sized nucleic acid vector (as described in for instance Schakowski et al., Mol Ther 3, 793-800 (2001)), or as a precipitated nucleic acid vector construct, such as a CaPO4-precipitated construct (as described in for instance WO 00/46147, Benvenisty and Reshef, PNAS USA 83, 9551-55 (1986), Wigler et al., Cell 14, 725 (1978), and Coraro and Pearson, Somatic Cell Genetics 7, 603 (1981)). Such nucleic acid vectors and the usage thereof are well known in the art (see for instance U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,589,466 and 5,973,972).

In one embodiment, the vector is suitable for expression of the anti-TF antibody in a bacterial cell. Examples of such vectors include expression vectors such as BlueScript (Stratagene), pIN vectors (Van Heeke & Schuster, J Biol Chem 264, 5503-5509 (1989), pET vectors (Novagen, Madison WI) and the like).

An expression vector may also or alternatively be a vector suitable for expression in a yeast system. Any vector suitable for expression in a yeast system may be employed. Suitable vectors include, for example, vectors comprising constitutive or inducible promoters such as alpha factor, alcohol oxidase and PGH (reviewed in: F. Ausubel et al., ed. Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Greene Publishing and Wiley InterScience New York (1987), and Grant et al., Methods in Enzymol 153, 516-544 (1987)).

A nucleic acid and/or vector may also comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding a secretion/localization sequence, which can target a polypeptide, such as a nascent polypeptide chain, to the periplasmic space or into cell culture media. Such sequences are known in the art, and include secretion leader or signal peptides, organelle targeting sequences (e. g., nuclear localization sequences, ER retention signals, mitochondrial transit sequences, chloroplast transit sequences), membrane localization/anchor sequences (e. g., stop transfer sequences, GPI anchor sequences), and the like.

In an expression vector of the invention, anti-TF antibody-encoding nucleic acids may comprise or be associated with any suitable promoter, enhancer, and other expression-facilitating elements. Examples of such elements include strong expression promoters (e. g., human CMV IE promoter/enhancer as well as RSV, SV40, SL3-3, MMTV, and HIV LTR promoters), effective poly (A) termination sequences, an origin of replication for plasmid product in E. coli, an antibiotic resistance gene as selectable marker, and/or a convenient cloning site (e.g., a polylinker). Nucleic acids may also comprise an inducible promoter as opposed to a constitutive promoter such as CMV IE (the skilled artisan will recognize that such terms are actually descriptors of a degree of gene expression under certain conditions).

In one embodiment, the anti-TF-antibody-encoding expression vector may be positioned in and/or delivered to the host cell or host animal via a viral vector.

In an even further aspect, the invention relates to a recombinant eukaryotic or prokaryotic host cell, such as a transfectoma, which produces an antibody of the invention as defined herein or a bispecific molecule of the invention as defined herein. Examples of host cells include yeast, bacterial, and mammalian cells, such as CHO or HEK cells. For example, in one embodiment, the present invention provides a cell comprising a nucleic acid stably integrated into the cellular genome that comprises a sequence coding for expression of an anti-TF antibody of the present invention. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a cell comprising a non-integrated nucleic acid, such as a plasmid, cosmid, phagemid, or linear expression element, which comprises a sequence coding for expression of an anti-TF antibody of the invention.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a hybridoma which produces an antibody of the invention as defined herein. In an even further aspect, the invention relates to a transgenic non-human animal comprising nucleic acids encoding a human heavy chain and a human light chain, wherein the animal or plant produces an antibody of the invention of the invention. Generation of such hybridomas and transgenic animals has been described above.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a method for producing an anti-TF antibody of the invention, said method comprising the steps of

-   -   a) culturing a hybridoma or a host cell of the invention as         described herein above, and     -   b) purifying the antibody of the invention from the culture         media.

In a further main aspect, the invention relates to an anti-TF antibody as defined herein or a bispecific molecule as defined herein for use as a medicament.

In an even further aspect, the invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising:

-   -   an anti-TF antibody as defined herein or a bispecific molecule         as defined herein, and     -   a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier.

The pharmaceutical compositions may be formulated with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or diluents as well as any other known adjuvants and excipients in accordance with conventional techniques such as those disclosed in Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, 19th Edition, Gennaro, Ed., Mack Publishing Co., Easton, P A, 1995.

The pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or diluents as well as any other known adjuvants and excipients should be suitable for the chosen compound of the present invention and the chosen mode of administration. Suitability for carriers and other components of pharmaceutical compositions is determined based on the lack of significant negative impact on the desired biological properties of the chosen compound or pharmaceutical composition of the present invention (e.g., less than a substantial impact (10% or less relative inhibition, 5% or less relative inhibition, etc.)) on antigen binding.

A pharmaceutical composition of the present invention may also include diluents, fillers, salts, buffers, detergents (e. g., a nonionic detergent, such as Tween-20 or Tween-80), stabilizers (e. g., sugars or protein-free amino acids), preservatives, tissue fixatives, solubilizers, and/or other materials suitable for inclusion in a pharmaceutical composition.

It has been reported that in cancer cells, such as human colorectal cancer cells, TF expression is under control of 2 major transforming events driving disease progression (activation of K-ras oncogene and inactivation of the p53 tumor suppressor), in a manner dependent on MEK/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphatidylinositol 3′-kinase (PI3K) (Yu et al. (2005) Blood 105:1734.

Cancer cells overexpressing TF may be particularly good targets for anti-TF antibodies of the invention, since more antibodies may be bound per cell. Thus, in one embodiment, a cancer patient to be treated with an anti-TF antibody of the invention is a patient, e.g. a pancreatic cancer, lung cancer or colorectal cancer patient who has been diagnosed to have one or more mutations in K-Ras and/or one or more mutations in p53 in their tumor cells.

In an alternative embodiment, the patient to be treated with an anti-TF antibody of the invention is a patient, e.g. a pancreatic cancer, lung cancer or colorectal cancer patient, who does not have a mutation in K-Ras. Without being bound by any specific theory, it is possible that some tumor cells having K-Ras activation are less susceptible to anti-TF antibody treatment, because the effects of anti-TF antibodies on intracellular signaling mechanisms may be less effective in cells in which K-Ras is activated.

The actual dosage levels of the active ingredients in the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may be varied so as to obtain an amount of the active ingredient which is effective to achieve the desired therapeutic response for a particular patient, composition, and mode of administration, without being toxic to the patient. The selected dosage level will depend upon a variety of pharmacokinetic factors including the activity of the particular compositions of the present invention employed, or the amide thereof, the route of administration, the time of administration, the rate of excretion of the particular compound being employed, the duration of the treatment, other drugs, compounds and/or materials used in combination with the particular compositions employed, the age, sex, weight, condition, general health and prior medical history of the patient being treated, and like factors well known in the medical arts.

The pharmaceutical composition may be administered by any suitable route and mode. Suitable routes of administering a compound of the present invention in vivo and in vitro are well known in the art and may be selected by those of ordinary skill in the art.

In one embodiment, a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention is administered parenterally.

The phrases “parenteral administration” and “administered parenterally” as used herein means modes of administration other than enteral and topical administration, usually by injection, and include epidermal, intravenous, intramuscular, intraarterial, intrathecal, intracapsular, intraorbital, intracardiac, intradermal, intraperitoneal, intratendinous, transtracheal, subcutaneous, subcuticular, intraarticular, subcapsular, subarachnoid, intraspinal, intracranial, intrathoracic, epidural and intrasternal injection and infusion.

In one embodiment that pharmaceutical composition is administered by intravenous or subcutaneous injection or infusion.

Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include any and all suitable solvents, dispersion media, coatings, antibacterial and antifungal agents, isotonicity agents, antioxidants and absorption delaying agents, and the like that are physiologically compatible with a compound of the present invention.

Examples of suitable aqueous and nonaqueous carriers which may be employed in the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention include water, saline, phosphate buffered saline, ethanol, dextrose, polyols (such as glycerol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and the like), and suitable mixtures thereof, vegetable oils, such as olive oil, corn oil, peanut oil, cottonseed oil, and sesame oil, carboxymethyl cellulose colloidal solutions, tragacanth gum and injectable organic esters, such as ethyl oleate, and/or various buffers. Other carriers are well known in the pharmaceutical arts.

Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include sterile aqueous solutions or dispersions and sterile powders for the extemporaneous preparation of sterile injectable solutions or dispersion. The use of such media and agents for pharmaceutically active substances is known in the art. Except insofar as any conventional media or agent is incompatible with the active compound, use thereof in the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention is contemplated.

Proper fluidity may be maintained, for example, by the use of coating materials, such as lecithin, by the maintenance of the required particle size in the case of dispersions, and by the use of surfactants.

Pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may also comprise pharmaceutically acceptable antioxidants for instance (1) water soluble antioxidants, such as ascorbic acid, cysteine hydrochloride, sodium bisulfate, sodium metabisulfite, sodium sulfite and the like; (2) oil-soluble antioxidants, such as ascorbyl palmitate, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), lecithin, propyl gallate, alpha-tocopherol, and the like; and (3) metal chelating agents, such as citric acid, ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), sorbitol, tartaric acid, phosphoric acid, and the like.

Pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may also comprise isotonicity agents, such as sugars, polyalcohols, such as mannitol, sorbitol, glycerol or sodium chloride in the compositions.

The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may also contain one or more adjuvants appropriate for the chosen route of administration such as preservatives, wetting agents, emulsifying agents, dispersing agents, preservatives or buffers, which may enhance the shelf life or effectiveness of the pharmaceutical composition. The compounds of the present invention may be prepared with carriers that will protect the compound against rapid release, such as a controlled release formulation, including implants, transdermal patches, and microencapsulated delivery systems. Such carriers may include gelatin, glyceryl monostearate, glyceryl distearate, biodegradable, biocompatible polymers such as ethylene vinyl acetate, polyanhydrides, polyglycolic acid, collagen, polyorthoesters, and polylactic acid alone or with a wax, or other materials well known in the art. Methods for the preparation of such formulations are generally known to those skilled in the art. See e.g., Sustained and Controlled Release Drug Delivery Systems, J. R. Robinson, ed., Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, 1978.

In one embodiment, the compounds of the present invention may be formulated to ensure proper distribution in vivo. Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers for parenteral administration include sterile aqueous solutions or dispersions and sterile powders for the extemporaneous preparation of sterile injectable solutions or dispersion. The use of such media and agents for pharmaceutically active substances is known in the art. Except insofar as any conventional media or agent is incompatible with the active compound, use thereof in the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention is contemplated. Supplementary active compounds may also be incorporated into the compositions.

Pharmaceutical compositions for injection must typically be sterile and stable under the conditions of manufacture and storage. The composition may be formulated as a solution, microemulsion, liposome, or other ordered structure suitable to high drug concentration. The carrier may be a aqueous or nonaqueous solvent or dispersion medium containing for instance water, ethanol, polyols (such as glycerol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and the like), and suitable mixtures thereof, vegetable oils, such as olive oil, and injectable organic esters, such as ethyl oleate. The proper fluidity may be maintained, for example, by the use of a coating such as lecithin, by the maintenance of the required particle size in the case of dispersion and by the use of surfactants. In many cases, it will be preferable to include isotonic agents, for example, sugars, polyalcohols such as glycerol, mannitol, sorbitol, or sodium chloride in the composition. Prolonged absorption of the injectable compositions may be brought about by including in the composition an agent that delays absorption, for example, monostearate salts and gelatin. Sterile injectable solutions may be prepared by incorporating the active compound in the required amount in an appropriate solvent with one or a combination of ingredients e.g. as enumerated above, as required, followed by sterilization microfiltration. Generally, dispersions are prepared by incorporating the active compound into a sterile vehicle that contains a basic dispersion medium and the required other ingredients e.g. from those enumerated above. In the case of sterile powders for the preparation of sterile injectable solutions, examples of methods of preparation are vacuum drying and freeze-drying (lyophilization) that yield a powder of the active ingredient plus any additional desired ingredient from a previously sterile-filtered solution thereof.

Sterile injectable solutions may be prepared by incorporating the active compound in the required amount in an appropriate solvent with one or a combination of ingredients enumerated above, as required, followed by sterilization microfiltration. Generally, dispersions are prepared by incorporating the active compound into a sterile vehicle that contains a basic dispersion medium and the required other ingredients from those enumerated above. In the case of sterile powders for the preparation of sterile injectable solutions, examples of methods of preparation are vacuum drying and freeze-drying (lyophilization) that yield a powder of the active ingredient plus any additional desired ingredient from a previously sterile-filtered solution thereof.

The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention may contain one compound of the present invention or a combination of compounds of the present invention.

As described above, in another aspect, the invention relates to the antibody of the invention as defined herein or a bispecific molecule of the invention as defined herein for use as a medicament.

The anti-TF antibodies of the invention may be used for a number of purposes. In particular, the antibodies of the invention may be used for the treatment of various forms of cancer. In one aspect the anti-TF monoclonal antibodies of the invention are used for the treatment of various solid cancer types such as: tumors of the central nervous system, head and neck cancer, lung cancer (such as non-small cell lung cancer), breast cancer, esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, liver and biliary cancer, pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, prostate cancer, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, malignant melanoma, sarcoma (soft tissue eg. bone and muscle), tumors of unknown primary origin (i.e. unknown primarys), leukemia, bone marrow cancer (such as multiple myeloma) acute lymphoblastic leukemia, chronic lymphoblastic leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, skin cancer, glioma, cancer of the brain, uterus, and rectum.

Further autoimmune inflammation, such as myopathies or multiple sclerose may be targeted with the anti-TF monoclonal antibodies of the present invention.

The anti-TF monoclonal antibodies of the present invention may also be useful for the treatment of haemostatis.

Cancer related hemostatic disorders may also be targeted with the present intervention.

Further diseases with inflammation, such as myopathies, Rheumatoid Arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, gout, spondylarthropathris, ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter's syndrome, psoriatic arthropathy, enterapathric spondylitis, juvenile arthropathy, reactive arthropathy, infectious or post-infectious arthritis, tuberculous arthritis, viral arthritis, fungal arthritis, syphilitic arthritis, glomerulonephritis, end stage renal disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, mb. Crohn, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, allergic asthma, bronchitis, acute bronchiolitis, chronic bronchiolitis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or multiple sclerose may be targeted with the anti-TF monoclonal antibodies of the present invention.

The anti-TF monoclonal antibodies of the present invention may also be useful for the treatment of haemostatis.

Cancer related hemostatic disorders may also be targeted with the present intervention.

Also vascular diseases such as vascular restenosis, myocardial vascular disease, cerebral vascular disease, retinopathia and macular degeneration, including but not limited to wet AMD can be treated with anti-TF monoclonal antibodies.

The anti-TF monoclonal antibodies of the present invention may also be useful for the treatment of patients with cardiovascular risk, such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and acute coronary syndrome, including but not limited to Acute Myocardial Infarct, stroke.

The anti-TF monoclonal antibodies of the present invention may also be useful for inhibition of thrombosis, such as DVT, renal embolism, lung embolism, arterial thrombosis, or to treat thrombosis occurring following arterial surgical, peripheral vascular bypass grafts or coronary artery bypass grafts, arterio-venous shunts, removal of an implementation, such as a stent or catheter

The anti-TF monoclonal antibodies of the present invention may also be useful for inhibition of renal ischemic reperfusion injury

The anti-TF monoclonal antibodies of the present invention may also be useful for treatment of hyperlipoproteinemia, hyperparathyroidism,

The anti-TF monoclonal antibodies of the present invention may also be useful for treatment of vasculitis, ANCA-positive vasculitis, Behcet's disease

The anti-TF monoclonal antibodies of the present invention may also be useful for blocking trauma-induced respiratory failure, such as Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Acute lung Injury.

The anti-TF monoclonal antibodies of the present invention may also be useful for blocking infection-induced organ dysfunction, such as renal failure, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Acute Lung Injury

The anti-TF monoclonal antibodies of the present invention may also be useful to treat various thromboembolic disorders such as those arising from angioplasty, myocardial infarction, unstable angina and coronary artery stenoses.

The anti-TF monoclonal antibodies of the present invention may also be useful in a prophylactic setting to treat TF-mediated complications to systemic infections, such as sepsis or pneumonia.

The anti-TF monoclonal antibodies of the present invention may also be useful as prophylactic treatment of patients with atherosclerotic vessels at risk for thrombosis

The anti-TF monoclonal antibodies of the present invention may also be useful for treatment of Graft-versus-host disease.

The anti-TF monoclonal antibodies of the present invention may also be useful for increasing beta cell engraftment in islet transplantation, to prevent cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV), to prevent acute graft rejection

The anti-TF monoclonal antibodies of the present invention may also be useful for treatment of diseases where circulating tissue-factor exposing microparticles are present, such as but not limited to vascular thrombosis, type II diabetes, AMI, pulmonary arterial hypertension

Similarly, the invention relates to a method for inhibiting growth and/or proliferation of a tumor cell expressing TF, comprising administration, to an individual in need thereof, of an antibody or a bispecific molecule of the invention. In one embodiment, said tumor cell is involved in cancer, such as prostate cancer, lung cancer (such as non-small cell lung cancer), breast cancer, colorectal cancer (such as metastatic colorectal cancer), pancreatic cancer, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, cutaneous melanoma, leukemia bone marrow cancer (such as multiple myeloma), acute lymphoblastic leukemia, chronic lymphoblastic leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, skin cancer, prostate cancer, glioma, cancer of the brain, kidneys, uterus, bladder, and rectum.

Also, the invention relates to the use of a monoclonal antibody that binds to human TF for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of cancer, such as one of the specific cancer indications mentioned above.

In an embodiment selection of patients to be treated with anti-TF antibody is based on the level of tissue factor (TF) in their urine and/or blood. In a particular embodiment the patient to be treated has a relatively high level of TF in urine and/or blood. For example, the patient to be treated may have a TF level in urine of more than 20 ng/ml, such as more than 40 ng/ml. e.g. more than 100 ng/ml, such as more than 200 ng/ml. Alternatively, or in addition, the TF level in serum of the patients may be more than 100 μg/ml, such as more than 200 μg/ml. This may e.g. be determined using an ELISA.

In a further embodiment of the methods of treatment of the present invention, the efficacy of the treatment is being monitored during the therapy, e.g. at predefined points in time. In one embodiment, the efficacy may be monitored by measuring the level of TF in urine or blood, for example by ELISA. In another embodiment, the efficacy may be determined by visualization of the disease area, e.g. by performing one or more PET-CT scans, for example using a labeled anti-TF antibody, such as a labeled anti-TF antibody of the present invention. Furthermore, labeled anti-TF antibodies, such as labeled anti-TF antibodies of the invention, could be used to detect TF-producing tumors e.g. using a PET-CT scan.

Dosage regimens in the above methods of treatment and uses are adjusted to provide the optimum desired response (e.g., a therapeutic response). For example, a single bolus may be administered, several divided doses may be administered over time or the dose may be proportionally reduced or increased as indicated by the exigencies of the therapeutic situation. Parenteral compositions may be formulated in dosage unit form for ease of administration and uniformity of dosage. Dosage unit form as used herein refers to physically discrete units suited as unitary dosages for the subjects to be treated; each unit contains a predetermined quantity of active compound calculated to produce the desired therapeutic effect in association with the required pharmaceutical carrier. The specification for the dosage unit forms of the present invention are dictated by and directly dependent on (a) the unique characteristics of the active compound and the particular therapeutic effect to be achieved, and (b) the limitations inherent in the art of compounding such an active compound for the treatment of sensitivity in individuals.

The efficient dosages and the dosage regimens for the anti-TF antibodies depend on the disease or condition to be treated and may be determined by the persons skilled in the art. An exemplary, non-limiting range for a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the present invention is about 0.1-100 mg/kg, such as about 0.1-50 mg/kg, for example about 0.1-20 mg/kg, such as about 0.1-10 mg/kg, for instance about 0.5, about such as 0.3, about 1, or about 3 mg/kg.

A physician or veterinarian having ordinary skill in the art may readily determine and prescribe the effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition required. For example, the physician or veterinarian could start doses of the anti-TF antibody employed in the pharmaceutical composition at levels lower than that required in order to achieve the desired therapeutic effect and gradually increase the dosage until the desired effect is achieved. In general, a suitable daily dose of a composition of the present invention will be that amount of the compound which is the lowest dose effective to produce a therapeutic effect. Such an effective dose will generally depend upon the factors described above. Administration may e.g. be intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, or subcutaneous, and for instance administered proximal to the site of the target. If desired, the effective daily dose of a pharmaceutical composition may be administered as two, three, four, five, six or more sub-doses administered separately at appropriate intervals throughout the day, optionally, in unit dosage forms. While it is possible for a compound of the present invention to be administered alone, it is preferable to administer the compound as a pharmaceutical composition as described above.

In one embodiment, the anti-TF antibodies may be administered by infusion in a weekly dosage of from 10 to 500 mg/m², such as of from 200 to 400 mg/m². Such administration may be repeated, e.g., 1 to 8 times, such as 3 to 5 times. The administration may be performed by continuous infusion over a period of from 2 to 24 hours, such as of from 2 to 12 hours.

In one embodiment, the anti-TF antibodies may be administered by slow continuous infusion over a long period, such as more than 24 hours, in order to reduce toxic side effects.

In one embodiment the anti-TF antibodies may be administered in a weekly dosage of from 250 mg to 2000 mg, such as for example 300 mg, 500 mg, 700 mg, 1000 mg, 1500 mg or 2000 mg, for up to 8 times, such as from 4 to 6 times. The administration may be performed by continuous infusion over a period of from 2 to 24 hours, such as of from 2 to 12 hours. Such regimen may be repeated one or more times as necessary, for example, after 6 months or 12 months. The dosage may be determined or adjusted by measuring the amount of compound of the present invention in the blood upon administration by for instance taking out a biological sample and using anti-idiotypic antibodies which target the antigen binding region of the anti-TF antibodies of the present invention.

In one embodiment, the anti-TF antibodies may be administered by maintenance therapy, such as, e.g., once a week for a period of 6 months or more.

In one embodiment, the anti-TF antibodies may be administered by a regimen including one infusion of an anti-TF antibody of the present invention followed by an infusion of an anti-TF antibody of the present invention conjugated to a radioisotope. The regimen may be repeated, e.g., 7 to 9 days later.

As non-limiting examples, treatment according to the present invention may be provided as a daily dosage of a compound of the present invention in an amount of about 0.1-100 mg/kg, such as 0.5, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 or 100 mg/kg, per day, on at least one of day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, or 40, or alternatively, at least one of week 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20 after initiation of treatment, or any combination thereof, using single or divided doses of every 24, 12, 8, 6, 4, or 2 hours, or any combination thereof.

An “effective amount” for tumor therapy may also be measured by its ability to stabilize the progression of disease. The ability of a compound to inhibit cancer may be evaluated in an animal model system predictive of efficacy in human tumors. Alternatively, this property of a composition may be evaluated by examining the ability of the compound to inhibit cell growth or to induce apoptosis by in vitro assays known to the skilled practitioner. A therapeutically effective amount of a therapeutic compound may decrease tumor size, or otherwise ameliorate symptoms in a subject. One of ordinary skill in the art would be able to determine such amounts based on such factors as the subject's size, the severity of the subject's symptoms, and the particular composition or route of administration selected.

An anti-TF antibody may also be administered prophylactically in order to reduce the risk of developing cancer, delay the onset of the occurrence of an event in cancer progression, and/or reduce the risk of recurrence when a cancer is in remission. This may be especially useful in patients wherein it is difficult to locate a tumor that is known to be present due to other biological factors.

Anti-TF antibodies may also be administered in combination therapy, i.e., combined with other therapeutic agents relevant for the disease or condition to be treated. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the antibody-containing medicament is for combination with one or more further therapeutic agent, such as a cytotoxic, chemotherapeutic or anti-angiogenic agent.

Such combined administration may be simultaneous, separate or sequential. For simultaneous administration the agents may be administered as one composition or as separate compositions, as appropriate. The present invention thus also provides methods for treating a disorder involving cells expressing TF as described above, which methods comprise administration of an anti-TF antibody of the present invention combined with one or more additional therapeutic agents as described below.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for treating a disorder involving cells expressing TF in a subject, which method comprises administration of a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-TF antibody of the present invention and at least one chemotherapeutic agent to a subject in need thereof.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for treating or preventing cancer, which method comprises administration of a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-TF antibody of the present invention and at least one chemotherapeutic agent to a subject in need thereof.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides the use of an anti-TF antibody of the present invention for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition to be administered with at least one chemotherapeutic agent for treating cancer.

In one embodiment, such a chemotherapeutic agent may be selected from an antimetabolite, such as methotrexate, 6-mercaptopurine, 6-thioguanine, cytarabine, fludarabine, 5-fluorouracil, decarbazine, hydroxyurea, asparaginase, gemcitabine, cladribine and similar agents.

In one embodiment, such a chemotherapeutic agent may be selected from an alkylating agent, such as mechlorethamine, thioepa, chlorambucil, melphalan, carmustine (BSNU), lomustine (CCNU), cyclophosphamide, busulfan, dibromomannitol, streptozotocin, dacarbazine (DTIC), procarbazine, mitomycin C, cisplatin and other platinum derivatives, such as carboplatin, and similar agents.

In one embodiment, such a chemotherapeutic agent may be selected from an anti-mitotic agent, such as taxanes, for instance docetaxel, and paclitaxel, and vinca alkaloids, for instance vindesine, vincristine, vinblastine, and vinorelbine.

In one embodiment, such a chemotherapeutic agent may be selected from a topoisomerase inhibitor, such as topotecan or irinotecan.

In one embodiment, such a chemotherapeutic agent may be selected from a cytostatic drug, such as etoposide and teniposide.

In one embodiment, such a chemotherapeutic agent may be selected from a growth factor inhibitor, such as an inhibitor of ErbB1 (EGFR) (such as Iressa, erbitux (cetuximab), tarceva and similar agents), an inhibitor of ErbB2 (Her2/neu) (such as herceptin and similar agents) and similar agents.

In one embodiment, such a chemotherapeutic agent may be selected from a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, such as imatinib (Glivec, Gleevec STI571), lapatinib, PTK787/ZK222584 and similar agents.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for treating a disorder involving cells expressing TF in a subject, which method comprises administration of a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-TF antibody of the present invention and at least one inhibitor of angiogenesis, neovascularization, and/or other vascularization to a subject in need thereof

Examples of such angiogenesis inhibitors are urokinase inhibitors, matrix metalloprotease inhibitors (such as marimastat, neovastat, BAY 12-9566, AG 3340, BMS-275291 and similar agents), inhibitors of endothelial cell migration and proliferation (such as TNP-470, squalamine, 2-methoxyestradiol, combretastatins, endostatin, angiostatin, penicillamine, SCH66336 (Schering-Plough Corp, Madison, NJ), R115777 (Janssen Pharmaceutica, Inc, Titusville, NJ) and similar agents), antagonists of angiogenic growth factors (such as such as ZD6474, SU6668, antibodies against angiogenic agents and/or their receptors (such as VEGF, bFGF, and angiopoietin-1), thalidomide, thalidomide analogs (such as CC-5013), Sugen 5416, SU5402, antiangiogenic ribozyme (such as angiozyme), interferon α (such as interferon α2a), suramin and similar agents), VEGF-R kinase inhibitors and other anti-angiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitors (such as SU011248), inhibitors of endothelial-specific integrin/survival signaling (such as vitaxin and similar agents), copper antagonists/chelators (such as tetrathiomolybdate, captopril and similar agents), carboxyamido-triazole (CAI), ABT-627, CM101, interleukin-12 (IL-12), IM862, PNU145156E as well as nucleotide molecules inhibiting angiogenesis (such as antisense-VEGF-cDNA, cDNA coding for angiostatin, cDNA coding for p53 and cDNA coding for deficient VEGF receptor-2) and similar agents.

Other examples of such inhibitors of angiogenesis, neovascularization, and/or other vascularization are anti-angiogenic heparin derivatives and related molecules (e.g., heperinase III), temozolomide, NK4, macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, inhibitors of hypoxia-inducible factor 1, anti-angiogenic soy isoflavones, oltipraz, fumagillin and analogs thereof, somatostatin analogues, pentosan polysulfate, tecogalan sodium, dalteparin, tumstatin, thrombospondin, NM-3, combrestatin, canstatin, avastatin, antibodies against other relevant targets (such as anti-alpha-v/beta-3 integrin and anti-kininostatin mAbs) and similar agents.

In one embodiment, a therapeutic agent for use in combination with an anti-TF antibody for treating the disorders as described above may be an anti-cancer immunogen, such as a cancer antigen/tumor-associated antigen (e.g., epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM/TACSTD1), mucin 1 (MUC1), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), tumor-associated glycoprotein 72 (TAG-72), gp100, Melan-A, MART-1, KDR, RCAS1, MDA7, cancer-associated viral vaccines (e.g., human papillomavirus vaccines), tumor-derived heat shock proteins, and similar agents. A number of other suitable cancer antigens/tumor-associated antigens described elsewhere herein and similar molecules known in the art may also or alternatively be used in such embodiment. Anti-cancer immunogenic peptides also include anti-idiotypic “vaccines” such as BEC2 anti-idiotypic antibodies, Mitumomab, CeaVac and related anti-idiotypic antibodies, anti-idiotypic antibody to MG7 antibody, and other anti-cancer anti-idiotypic antibodies (see for instance Birebent et al., Vaccine. 21(15), 1601-12 (2003), Li et al., Chin Med J (Engl). 114(9), 962-6 (2001), Schmitt et al., Hybridoma. 13(5), 389-96 (1994), Maloney et al., Hybridoma. 4(3), 191-209 (1985), Raychardhuri et al., J Immunol. 137(5), 1743-9 (1986), Pohl et al., Int J Cancer. 958-67 (1992), Bohlen et al., Cytokines Mol Ther. 2(4), 231-8 (1996) and Maruyama, J Immunol Methods. 264(1-2), 121-33 (2002)). Such anti-idiotypic Abs may optionally be conjugated to a carrier, which may be a synthetic (typically inert) molecule carrier, a protein (for instance keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) (see for instance Ochi et al., Eur J Immunol. 17(11), 1645-8 (1987)), or a cell (for instance a red blood cell—see for instance Wi et al., J Immunol Methods. 122(2), 227-34 (1989)).

In one embodiment, a therapeutic agent for use in combination with an anti-TF antibody for treating the disorders as described above may be an anti-cancer cytokine, chemokine, or combination thereof. Examples of suitable cytokines and growth factors include IFNγ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-7, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-15, IL-18, IL-23, IL-24, IL-27, IL-28a, IL-28b, IL-29, KGF, IFNα (e.g., INFα2b), IFNβ, GM-CSF, CD40L, Flt3 ligand, stem cell factor, ancestim, and TNFα. Suitable chemokines may include Glu-Leu-Arg (ELR)-negative chemokines such as IP-10, MCP-3, MIG, and SDF-1α from the human CXC and C—C chemokine families. Suitable cytokines include cytokine derivatives, cytokine variants, cytokine fragments, and cytokine fusion proteins. These and other methods or uses involving naturally occurring peptide-encoding nucleic acids herein may alternatively or additionally be performed by “gene activation” and homologous recombination gene upregulation techniques, such as are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,968,502, 6,063,630 and 6,187,305 and EP 0505500.

In one embodiment, a therapeutic agent for use in combination with an anti-TF antibody for treating the disorders as described above may be a cell cycle control/apoptosis regulator (or “regulating agent”). A cell cycle control/apoptosis regulator may include molecules that target and modulate cell cycle control/apoptosis regulators such as (i) cdc-25 (such as NSC 663284), (ii) cyclin-dependent kinases that overstimulate the cell cycle (such as flavopiridol (L868275, HMR1275), 7-hydroxystaurosporine (UCN-01, KW-2401), and roscovitine (R-roscovitine, CYC202)), and (iii) telomerase modulators (such as BIBR1532, SOT-095, GRN163 and compositions described in for instance U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,440,735 and 6,713,055). Non-limiting examples of molecules that interfere with apoptotic pathways include TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)/apoptosis-2 ligand (Apo-2L), antibodies that activate TRAIL receptors, IFNs, □ and anti-sense Bcl-2.

In one embodiment, a therapeutic agent for use in combination with an anti-TF antibody for treating the disorders as described above may be a hormonal regulating agent, such as agents useful for anti-androgen and anti-estrogen therapy. Examples of such hormonal regulating agents are tamoxifen, idoxifene, fulvestrant, droloxifene, toremifene, raloxifene, diethylstilbestrol, ethinyl estradiol/estinyl, an antiandrogene (such as flutaminde/eulexin), a progestin (such as such as hydroxyprogesterone caproate, medroxyprogesterone/provera, megestrol acepate/megace), an adrenocorticosteroid (such as hydrocortisone, prednisone), luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (and analogs thereof and other LHRH agonists such as buserelin and goserelin), an aromatase inhibitor (such as anastrazole/arimidex, aminoglutethimide/cytraden, exemestane), a hormone inhibitor (such as octreotide/sandostatin) and similar agents.

In one embodiment, a therapeutic agent for use in combination with an anti-TF antibody for treating the disorders as described above may be an anti-anergic agent (for instance small molecule compounds, proteins, glycoproteins, or antibodies that break tolerance to tumor and cancer antigens). Examples of such compounds are molecules that block the activity of CTLA-4, such as MDX-010 (ipilimumab) (Phan et al., PNAS USA 100, 8372 (2003)).

In one embodiment, a therapeutic agent for use in combination with an anti-TF antibody for treating the disorders as described above may be a tumor suppressor gene-containing nucleic acid or vector such as a replication-deficient adenovirus encoding human recombinant wild-type p53/SCH58500, etc.; antisense nucleic acids targeted to oncogenes, mutated, or deregulated genes; or siRNA targeted to mutated or deregulated genes. Examples of tumor suppressor targets include, for example, BRCA1, RB1, BRCA2, DPC4 (Smad4), MSH2, MLH1, and DCC.

In one embodiment, a therapeutic agent for use in combination with an anti-TF antibody for treating the disorders as described above may be an anti-cancer nucleic acid, such as genasense (augmerosen/G3139), LY900003 (ISIS 3521), ISIS 2503, OGX-011 (ISIS 112989), LE-AON/LEraf-AON (liposome encapsulated c-raf antisense oligonucleotide/ISIS-5132), MG98, and other antisense nucleic acids that target PKCα, clusterin, IGFBPs, protein kinase A, cyclin D1, or Bcl-2h.

In one embodiment, a therapeutic agent for use in combination with an anti-TF antibody for treating the disorders as described above may be an anti-cancer inhibitory RNA molecule (see for instance Lin et al., Curr Cancer Drug Targets. 1(3), 241-7 (2001), Erratum in: Curr Cancer Drug Targets. 3(3), 237 (2003), Lima et al., Cancer Gene Ther. 11(5), 309-16 (2004), Grzmil et al., Int J Oncol. 4(1), 97-105 (2004), Collis et al., Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 57(2 Suppl), 5144 (2003), Yang et al., Oncogene. 22(36), 5694-701 (2003) and Zhang et al., Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 303(4), 1169-78 (2003)).

Compositions and combination administration methods of the present invention also include the administration of nucleic acid vaccines, such as naked DNA vaccines encoding such cancer antigens/tumor-associated antigens (see for instance U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,589,466, 5,593,972, 5,703,057, 5,879,687, 6,235,523, and 6,387,888). In one embodiment, the combination administration method and/or combination composition comprises an autologous vaccine composition. In one embodiment, the combination composition and/or combination administration method comprises a whole cell vaccine or cytokine-expressing cell (for instance a recombinant IL-2 expressing fibroblast, recombinant cytokine-expressing dendritic cell, and the like) (see for instance Kowalczyk et al., Acta Biochim Pol. 50(3), 613-24 (2003), Reilly et al., Methods Mol Med. 69, 233-57 (2002) and Tirapu et al., Curr Gene Ther. 2(1), 79-89 (2002). Another example of such an autologous cell approach that may be useful in combination methods of the present invention is the MyVax® Personalized Immunotherapy method (previously referred to as GTOP-99) (Genitope Corporation—Redwood City, CA, USA).

In one embodiment, the present invention provides combination compositions and combination administration methods wherein an anti-TF antibody is combined or co-administered with a virus, viral proteins, and the like. Replication-deficient viruses, that generally are capable of one or only a few rounds of replication in vivo, and that are targeted to tumor cells, may for instance be useful components of such compositions and methods. Such viral agents may comprise or be associated with nucleic acids encoding immunostimulants, such as GM-CSF and/or IL-2. Both naturally oncolytic and such recombinant oncolytic viruses (for instance HSV-1 viruses, reoviruses, replication-deficient and replication-sensitive adenovirus, etc.) may be useful components of such methods and compositions. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the present invention provides combination compositions and combination administration methods wherein an anti-TF antibody is combined or co-administered with an oncolytic virus. Examples of such viruses include oncolytic adenoviruses and herpes viruses, which may or may not be modified viruses (see for instance Shah et al., J Neurooncol. 65(3), 203-26 (2003), Stiles et al., Surgery. 134(2), 357-64 (2003), Sunarmura et al., Pancreas. 28(3), 326-9 (2004), Teshigahara et al., J Surg Oncol. 85(1), 42-7 (2004), Varghese et al., Cancer Gene Ther. 9(12), 967-78 (2002), Wildner et al., Cancer Res. 59(2), 410-3 (1999), Yamanaka, Int J Oncol. 24(4), 919-23 (2004) and Zwiebel et al., Semin Oncol. 28(4), 336-43 (2001).

Combination compositions and combination administration methods of the present invention may also involve “whole cell and “adoptive” immunotherapy methods. For instance, such methods may comprise infusion or re-infusion of immune system cells (for instance tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), such as CD4⁺ and/or CD8⁺ T cells (for instance T cells expanded with tumor-specific antigens and/or genetic enhancements), antibody-expressing B cells or other antibody producing/presenting cells, dendritic cells (e.g., anti-cytokine expressing recombinant dendritic cells, dendritic cells cultured with a DC-expanding agent such as GM-CSF and/or Flt3-L, and/or tumor-associated antigen-loaded dendritic cells), anti-tumor NK cells, so-called hybrid cells, or combinations thereof. Cell lysates may also be useful in such methods and compositions. Cellular “vaccines” in clinical trials that may be useful in such aspects include Canvaxin™, APC-8015 (Dendreon), HSPPC-96 (Antigenics), and Melacine® cell lysates. Antigens shed from cancer cells, and mixtures thereof (see for instance Bystryn et al., Clinical Cancer Research Vol. 7, 1882-1887, July 2001), optionally admixed with adjuvants such as alum, may also be components in such methods and combination compositions.

In one embodiment, an anti-TF antibody may be delivered to a patient in combination with the application of an internal vaccination method. Internal vaccination refers to induced tumor or cancer cell death, such as drug-induced or radiation-induced cell death of tumor cells, in a patient, that typically leads to elicitation of an immune response directed towards (i) the tumor cells as a whole or (ii) parts of the tumor cells including (a) secreted proteins, glycoproteins or other products, (b) membrane-associated proteins or glycoproteins or other components associated with or inserted in membranes, and/or (c) intracellular proteins or other intracellular components. An internal vaccination-induced immune response may be humoral (i.e. antibody-complement-mediated) or cell-mediated (e.g., the development and/or increase of endogenous cytotoxic T lymphocytes that recognize the internally killed tumor cells or parts thereof). In addition to radiotherapy, non-limiting examples of drugs and agents that may be used to induce said tumor cell-death and internal vaccination are conventional chemotherapeutic agents, cell-cycle inhibitors, anti-angiogenesis drugs, monoclonal antibodies, apoptosis-inducing agents, and signal transduction inhibitors.

Examples of other anti-cancer agents, which may be relevant as therapeutic agents for use in combination with an anti-TF antibody for treating the disorders as described above are differentiation inducing agents, retinoic acid analogues (such as all trans retinoic acid, 13-cis retinoic acid and similar agents), vitamin D analogues (such as seocalcitol and similar agents), inhibitors of ErbB3, ErbB4, IGF-IR, insulin receptor, PDGFRa, PDGFRbeta, Flk2, Flt4, FGFR1, FGFR2, FGFR3, FGFR4, TRKA, TRKC, c-met, Ron, Sea, Tie, Tie2, Eph, Ret, Ros, Alk, LTK, PTK7 and similar agents.

Examples of other anti-cancer agents, which may be relevant as therapeutic agents for use in combination with an anti-TF antibody for treating the disorders as described above are cathepsin B, modulators of cathepsin D dehydrogenase activity, glutathione-S-transferase (such as glutacylcysteine synthetase and lactate dehydrogenase), and similar agents.

Examples of other anti-cancer agents, which may be relevant as therapeutic agents for use in combination with an anti-TF antibody for treating the disorders as described above are estramustine and epirubicin.

Examples of other anti-cancer agents, which may be relevant as therapeutic agents for use in combination with an anti-TF antibody for treating the disorders as described above are a HSP90 inhibitor like 17-allyl amino geld-anamycin, antibodies directed against a tumor antigen such as PSA, CA125, KSA, etc., integrins like integrin β1, inhibitors of VCAM and similar agents.

Examples of other anti-cancer agents, which may be relevant as therapeutic agents for use in combination with an anti-TF antibody for treating the disorders as described above are calcineurin-inhibitors (such as valspodar, PSC 833 and other MDR-1 or p-glycoprotein inhibitors), TOR-inhibitors (such as sirolimus, everolimus and rapamcyin). and inhibitors of “lymphocyte homing” mechanisms (such as FTY720), and agents with effects on cell signaling such as adhesion molecule inhibitors (for instance anti-LFA, etc.).

In one embodiment, the anti-TF antibody of the invention is for use in combination with one or more other therapeutic antibodies, such as bevacizumab (Avastin®), zalutumumab, cetuximab (Erbitux®), panitumumab (Vectibix™), ofatumumab, zanolimumab, daratumumab, ranibizumab (Lucentis®), Zenapax, Simulect, Remicade, Humira, Tysabri, Xolair, raptiva, nimotuzumab, rituximab and/or trastuzumab (Herceptin®). Other therapeutic antibodies which may be used in combination with the antibody of the present invention are those disclosed in WO98/40408 (antibodies that can bind native human TF), WO04/094475 (antibodies capable of binding to human tissue factor, which do not inhibit factor mediated blood coagulation compared to a normal plasma control), WO03/093422 (antibodies that bind with greater affinity to the TF:VIIa complex than to TF alone), or WO03/037361 (TF agonist or antagonist for treatment related to apoptosis).

In another embodiment, two or more different antibodies of the invention as described herein are used in combination for the treatment of disease. Particularly interesting combinations include two or more non-competing antibodies. Thus, in one embodiment, a patient is treated with a combination of an antibody of cross-block Group I defined herein with an antibody of Group II or III, as defined herein. In another embodiment, a patient is treated with a combination of an antibody of Group II as defined herein below, with an antibody of Group III. Such combination therapy may lead to binding of an increased number of antibody molecules per cell, which may give increase efficacy, e.g. via activation of complement-mediated lysis.

In one embodiment, an anti-TF antibody may be administered in connection with the delivery of one or more agents that promote access of the anti-TF antibody or combination composition to the interior of a tumor. Such methods may for example be performed in association with the delivery of a relaxin, which is capable of relaxing a tumor (see for instance U.S. Pat. No. 6,719,977). In one embodiment, an anti-TF antibody of the present invention may be bonded to a cell penetrating peptide (CPP). Cell penetrating peptides and related peptides (such as engineered cell penetrating antibodies) are described in for instance Zhao et al., J Immunol Methods. 254(1-2), 137-45 (2001), Hong et al., Cancer Res. 60(23), 6551-6 (2000). Lindgren et al., Biochem J. 377(Pt 1), 69-76 (2004), Buerger et al., J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 129(12), 669-75 (2003), Pooga et al., FASEB J. 12(1), 67-77 (1998) and Tseng et al., Mol Pharmacol. 62(4), 864-72 (2002).

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for treating a disorder involving cells expressing TF in a subject, which method comprises administration of a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-TF antibody and at least one anti-inflammatory agent to a subject in need thereof

In one embodiment such an anti-inflammatory agent may be selected from aspirin and other salicylates, Cox-2 inhibitors (such as rofecoxib and celecoxib), NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen, fenoprofen, naproxen, sulindac, diclofenac, piroxicam, ketoprofen, diflunisal, nabumetone, etodolac, oxaprozin, and indomethacin), anti-IL6R antibodies, anti-IL8 antibodies (e.g. antibodies described in WO2004058797, e.g. 10F8), anti-IL15 antibodies (e.g. antibodies described in WO03017935 and WO2004076620), anti-IL15R antibodies, anti-CD4 antibodies (e.g. zanolimumab), anti-CD11a antibodies (e.g., efalizumab), anti-alpha-4/beta-1 integrin (VLA4) antibodies (e.g. natalizumab), CTLA4-Ig for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, prednisolone, prednisone, disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, sulfasalazine, pyrimidine synthesis inhibitors (such as leflunomide), IL-1 receptor blocking agents (such as anakinra), TNF-α blocking agents (such as etanercept, infliximab, and adalimumab) and similar agents.

In one embodiment, such an immunosuppressive and/or immunomodulatory agent may be selected from cyclosporine, azathioprine, mycophenolic acid, mycophenolate mofetil, corticosteroids such as prednisone, methotrexate, gold salts, sulfasalazine, antimalarials, brequinar, leflunomide, mizoribine, 15-deoxyspergualine, 6-mercaptopurine, cyclophosphamide, rapamycin, tacrolimus (FK-506), OKT3, anti-thymocyte globulin, thymopentin, thymosin-α and similar agents.

In one embodiment, such an immunosuppressive and/or immunomodulatory agent may be selected from immunosuppressive antibodies, such as antibodies binding to p75 of the IL-2 receptor, antibodies against CD25 (e.g. those described in WO2004045512, such as AB1, AB7, AB11, and AB12), or antibodies binding to for instance MHC, CD2, CD3, CD4, CD7, CD28, B7, CD40, CD45, IFNγ, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6R, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, CD11a, or CD58, or antibodies binding to their ligands.

In one embodiment, such an immunosuppressive and/or immunomodulatory agent may be selected from soluble IL-15R, IL-10, B7 molecules (B7-1, B7-2, variants thereof, and fragments thereof), ICOS, and OX40, an inhibitor of a negative T cell regulator (such as an antibody against CTLA4) and similar agents.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for treating a disorder involving cells expressing TF in a subject, which method comprises administration of a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-TF antibody and an anti-C3b(i) antibody to a subject in need thereof

In one embodiment, a therapeutic agent for use in combination with anti-TF antibodies for treating the disorders as described above may be selected from histone deacetylase inhibitors (for instance phenylbutyrate) and/or DNA repair agents (for instance DNA repair enzymes and related compositions such as dimericine).

Methods of the present invention for treating a disorder as described above comprising administration of a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-TF antibody may also comprise anti-cancer directed photodynamic therapy (for instance anti-cancer laser therapy—which optionally may be practiced with the use of photosensitizing agent, see, for instance Zhang et al., J Control Release. 93(2), 141-50 (2003)), anti-cancer sound-wave and shock-wave therapies (see for instance Kambe et al., Hum Cell. 10(1), 87-94 (1997)), and/or anti-cancer nutraceutical therapy (see for instance Roudebush et al., Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 34(1), 249-69, viii (2004) and Rafi, Nutrition. 20(1), 78-82 (2004). Likewise, an anti-TF antibody may be used for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for treating a disorder as described above to be administered with anti-cancer directed photodynamic therapy (for instance anti-cancer laser therapy—which optionally may be practiced with the use of photosensitizing agent, anti-cancer sound-wave and shock-wave therapies, and/or anti-cancer nutraceutical therapy.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for treating a disorder involving cells expressing TF in a subject, which method comprises administration of a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-TF antibody, such as an anti-TF antibody of the present invention, and radiotherapy to a subject in need thereof.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for treating or preventing cancer, which method comprises administration of a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-TF antibody, such as an anti-TF antibody of the present invention, and radiotherapy to a subject in need thereof.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides the use of an anti-TF antibody, such as an anti-TF antibody of the present invention, for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer to be administered in combination with radiotherapy.

Radiotherapy may comprise radiation or associated administration of radiopharmaceuticals to a patient is provided. The source of radiation may be either external or internal to the patient being treated (radiation treatment may, for example, be in the form of external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) or brachytherapy (BT)). Radioactive elements that may be used in practicing such methods include, e.g., radium, cesium-137, iridium-192, americium-241, gold-198, cobalt-57, copper-67, technetium-99, iodide-123, iodide-131, and indium-111.

In a further embodiment, the present invention provides a method for treating or preventing cancer, which method comprises administration to a subject in need thereof of a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-TF antibody, such as an anti-TF antibody of the present invention, in combination with surgery.

As described above, a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention may be administered in combination therapy, i.e., combined with one or more agents relevant for the disease or condition to be treated either as separate pharmaceutical compositions or with a compound of the present invention coformulated with one or more additional therapeutic agents as described above. Such combination therapies may require lower dosages of the compound of the present invention and/or the co-administered agents, thus avoiding possible toxicities or complications associated with the various monotherapies.

In addition to the above, other interesting combination therapies include the following:

-   -   For the treatment of pancreatic cancer an anti-TF antibody in         combination with an antimetabolite, such as 5-fluorouracil         and/or gemcitabine, possibly in combination with one or more         compounds selected from: 90Y-hPAM4, ARC-100, ARQ-197, AZD-6244,         bardoxolone methyl, cixutumumab, (IMC-A12), folitixorin calcium,         GVAX, ipilimumab, KRX-0601, merbarone, MGCD-0103, MORAb-009,         PX-12, Rh-Apo2L, TLN-4601, trabedersen, volociximab (M200),         WX-671, pemetrexed, rubitecan, ixabepilone, OCX-0191Vion,         216586-46-8, lapatinib, matuzumab, imatinib, sorafinib,         trastuzumab, exabepilone, erlotinib, avastin and cetuximab     -   For the treatment of colorectal cancer an anti-TF antibody in         combination with one or more compounds selected from:         gemcitabine, bevacizumab, FOLFOX, FOLFIRI, XELOX, IFL,         oxaliplatin, irinotecan, 5-FU/LV, Capecitabine, UFT, EGFR         targeting agents, such as cetuximab panitumumab, zalutumumab,         nimotuzumab; VEGF inhibitors, or tyrosine kinase inhibitors such         as sunitinib.     -   For the treatment of breast cancer an anti-TF antibody in         combination with one or more compounds selected from:         antimetabolites, anthracyclines, taxanes, alkylating agents,         epothilones anti-hormonal (femar, tamoxifen etc), inhibitors of         ErbB2 (Her2/neu) (such as herceptin and similar agents), CAF/FAC         (cyclofosfamide, doxorubicine, 5FU) AC (cyclo, doxo), CMF         (cyclo, methotrexate, 5FU), Docetaxel+capecitabine, GT         (paclitaxel, gemcitabine) FEC (cyclo, epi, 5FU) in combination         with herceptine: Paclitaxel+/−carboplatin, Vinorelbine,         Docetaxel, CT in combination with lapatinib; Capecitabine     -   For the treatment of bladder an anti-TF antibody in combination         with one or more compounds selected from: antimetabolites         (gemcitabine, alimta, methotrexate), platinum analogues         (cisplatin, carboplatin), EGFr inhibitors (such as cetuximab or         zalutumumab), VEGF inhibitors (such as Avastin) doxorubicin,         tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as gefitinib, trastuzumab,         anti-mitotic agent, such as taxanes, for instance paclitaxel,         and vinca alkaloids, for instance vinblastine.     -   For the treatment of prostate cancer an anti-TF antibody in         combination with one or more compounds selected from:         hormonal/antihormonal therapies; such as antiandrogens,         Luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists, and         chemotherapeutics such as taxanes, mitoxantrone, estramustine,         5FU, vinblastine, ixabepilone,     -   For the treatment of ovarian cancer an anti-TF antibody in         combination with one or more compounds selected from: an         anti-mitotic agent, such as taxanes, and vinca alkaloids,         caelyx, topotecan.

Diagnostic Uses

The anti-TF antibodies of the invention may also be used for diagnostic purposes. Thus, in a further aspect, the invention relates to a diagnostic composition comprising an anti-TF antibody as defined herein.

In one embodiment, the anti-TF antibodies of the present invention may be used in vivo or in vitro for diagnosing diseases wherein activated cells expressing TF play an active role in the pathogenesis, by detecting levels of TF, or levels of cells which contain TF on their membrane surface. This may be achieved, for example, by contacting a sample to be tested, optionally along with a control sample, with the anti-TF antibody under conditions that allow for formation of a complex between the antibody and TF. Complex formation is then detected (e.g., using an ELISA). When using a control sample along with the test sample, complex is detected in both samples and any statistically significant difference in the formation of complexes between the samples is indicative of the presence of TF in the test sample.

Thus, in a further aspect, the invention relates to a method for detecting the presence of TF antigen, or a cell expressing TF, in a sample comprising:

-   -   contacting the sample with an anti-TF antibody of the invention         or a bispecific molecule of the invention, under conditions that         allow for formation of a complex between the antibody and TF;     -   and     -   analyzing whether a complex has been formed.

In one embodiment, the method is performed in vitro.

More specifically, the present invention provides methods for the identification of, and diagnosis of invasive cells and tissues, and other cells targeted by anti-TF antibodies of the present invention, and for the monitoring of the progress of therapeutic treatments, status after treatment, risk of developing cancer, cancer progression, and the like.

In one example of such a diagnostic assay, the present invention provides a method of diagnosing the level of invasive cells in a tissue comprising forming an immunocomplex between an anti-TF antibody and potential TF-containing tissues, and detecting formation of the immunocomplex, wherein the formation of the immunocomplex correlates with the presence of invasive cells in the tissue. The contacting may be performed in vivo, using labeled isolated antibodies and standard imaging techniques, or may be performed in vitro on tissue samples.

Anti-TF antibodies may be used to detect TF-containing peptides and peptide fragments in any suitable biological sample by any suitable technique. Examples of conventional immunoassays provided by the present invention include, without limitation, an ELISA, an RIA, FACS assays, plasmon resonance assays, chromatographic assays, tissue immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and/or immunoprecipitation using an anti-TF antibody. Anti-TF antibodies of the present invention may be used to detect TF and TF-fragments from humans. Suitable labels for the anti-TF antibody and/or secondary antibodies used in such techniques include, without limitation, various enzymes, prosthetic groups, fluorescent materials, luminescent materials, and radioactive materials. Examples of suitable enzymes include horseradish peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, β-galactosidase, or acetylcholinesterase; examples of suitable prosthetic group complexes include streptavidin/biotin and avidin/biotin; examples of suitable fluorescent materials include umbelliferone, fluorescein, fluorescein isothiocyanate, rhodamine, dichlorotriazinylamine fluorescein, dansyl chloride or phycoerythrin; an example of a luminescent material includes luminol; and examples of suitable radioactive material include ¹²⁵I, ¹³¹I, ³⁵S, and ³H.

Anti-TF antibodies may also be assayed in a biological sample by a competition immunoassay utilizing TF peptide standards labeled with a detectable substance and an unlabeled anti-TF antibody. In such an assay, the biological sample, the labeled TF peptide standard(s) and the anti-TF antibodies are combined and the amount of labeled TF standard bound to the unlabeled anti-TF antibody is determined. The amount of TF peptide in the biological sample is inversely proportional to the amount of labeled TF standard bound to the anti-TF antibody.

The anti-TF antibodies are particularly useful in the in vivo imaging of tumors. In vivo imaging of tumors associated with TF may be performed by any suitable technique. For example, ⁹⁹Tc-labeling or labeling with another gamma-ray emitting isotope may be used to label anti-TF antibodies in tumors or secondary labeled (e.g., FITC labeled) anti-TF antibody:TF complexes from tumors and imaged with a gamma scintillation camera (e.g., an Elscint Apex 409ECT device), typically using low-energy, high resolution collimator or a low-energy all-purpose collimator. Stained tissues may then be assessed for radioactivity counting as an indicator of the amount of TF-associated peptides in the tumor. The images obtained by the use of such techniques may be used to assess biodistribution of TF in a patient, mammal, or tissue, for example in the context of using TF or TF-fragments as a biomarker for the presence of invasive cancer cells. Variations on this technique may include the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to improve imaging over gamma camera techniques. Similar immunoscintiography methods and principles are described in, e.g., Srivastava (ed.), Radiolabeled Monoclonal Antibodies For Imaging And Therapy (Plenum Press 1988), Chase, “Medical Applications of Radioisotopes,” in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 18th Edition, Gennaro et al., (eds.), pp. 624-652 (Mack Publishing Co., 1990), and Brown, “Clinical Use of Monoclonal Antibodies,” in Biotechnology And Pharmacy 227-49, Pezzuto et al., (eds.) (Chapman & Hall 1993). Such images may also be used for targeted delivery of other anti-cancer agents, examples of which are described herein (e.g., apoptotic agents, toxins, or CHOP chemotherapy compositions). Moreover, such images may also or alternatively serve as the basis for surgical techniques to remove tumors. Furthermore, such in vivo imaging techniques may allow for the identification and localization of a tumor in a situation where a patient is identified as having a tumor (due to the presence of other biomarkers, metastases, etc.), but the tumor cannot be identified by traditional analytical techniques. All of these methods are features of the present invention.

The in vivo imaging and other diagnostic methods provided by the present invention are particularly useful in the detection of micrometastases in a human patient (e.g., a patient not previously diagnosed with cancer or a patient in a period of recovery/remission from a cancer). Carcinoma cancer cells, which may make up to 90% of all cancer cells, for example, have been demonstrated to stain very well with anti-TF antibody conjugate compositions. Detection with monoclonal anti-TF antibodies described herein may be indicative of the presence of carcinomas that are aggressive/invasive and also or alternatively provide an indication of the feasibility of using related monoclonal anti-TF antibody against such micrometastases.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides an in vivo imaging method wherein an anti-TF antibody of the present invention is conjugated to a detection-promoting radio-opaque agent, the conjugated antibody is administered to a host, such as by injection into the bloodstream, and the presence and location of the labeled antibody in the host is assayed. Through this technique and any other diagnostic method provided herein, the present invention provides a method for screening for the presence of disease-related cells in a human patient or a biological sample taken from a human patient.

For diagnostic imaging, radioisotopes may be bound to a anti-TF antibody either directly, or indirectly by using an intermediary functional group. Useful intermediary functional groups include chelators, such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (see for instance U.S. Pat. No. 5,057,313).

In addition to radioisotopes and radio-opaque agents, diagnostic methods may be performed using anti-TF antibodies that are conjugated to dyes (such as with the biotin-streptavidin complex), contrast agents, fluorescent compounds or molecules and enhancing agents (e.g. paramagnetic ions) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,175, which describes MRI techniques and the preparation of antibodies conjugated to a MRI enhancing agent). Such diagnostic/detection agents may be selected from agents for use in magnetic resonance imaging, and fluorescent compounds. In order to load an anti-TF antibody with radioactive metals or paramagnetic ions, it may be necessary to react it with a reagent having a long tail to which are attached a multiplicity of chelating groups for binding the ions. Such a tail may be a polymer such as a polylysine, polysaccharide, or other derivatized or derivatizable chain having pendant groups to which may be bound chelating groups such as, e.g., porphyrins, polyamines, crown ethers, bisthiosemicarbazones, polyoximes, and like groups known to be useful for this purpose. Chelates may be coupled to anti-TF antibodies using standard chemistries.

Thus, the present invention provides diagnostic anti-TF antibody conjugates, wherein the anti-TF antibody is conjugated to a contrast agent (such as for magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, or ultrasound contrast-enhancing agent) or a radionuclide that may be, for example, a gamma-, beta-, alpha-, Auger electron-, or positron-emitting isotope.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a kit for detecting the presence of TF antigen, or a cell expressing TF, in a sample comprising

-   -   an anti-TF antibody of the invention or a bispecific molecule of         the invention; and     -   instructions for use of the kit.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a kit for diagnosis of cancer comprising a container comprising an anti-TF antibody, and one or more reagents for detecting binding of the anti-TF antibody to a TF peptide. Reagents may include, for example, fluorescent tags, enzymatic tags, or other detectable tags. The reagents may also include secondary or tertiary antibodies or reagents for enzymatic reactions, wherein the enzymatic reactions produce a product that may be visualized. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a diagnostic kit comprising one or more anti-TF antibodies, of the present invention in labeled or unlabeled form in suitable container(s), reagents for the incubations for an indirect assay, and substrates or derivatizing agents for detection in such an assay, depending on the nature of the label. Control reagent(s) and instructions for use also may be included.

Diagnostic kits may also be supplied for use with an anti-TF antibody, such as a conjugated/labeled anti-TF antibody, for the detection of a cellular activity or for detecting the presence of TF peptides in a tissue sample or host. In such diagnostic kits, as well as in kits for therapeutic uses described elsewhere herein, an anti-TF antibody typically may be provided in a lyophilized form in a container, either alone or in conjunction with additional antibodies specific for a target cell or peptide. Typically, a pharmaceutical acceptable carrier (e.g., an inert diluent) and/or components thereof, such as a Tris, phosphate, or carbonate buffer, stabilizers, preservatives, biocides, biocides, inert proteins, e.g., serum albumin, or the like, also are included (typically in a separate container for mixing) and additional reagents (also typically in separate container(s)). In certain kits, a secondary antibody capable of binding to the anti-TF antibody, which typically is present in a separate container, is also included. The second antibody is typically conjugated to a label and formulated in manner similar to the anti-TF antibody the present invention. Using the methods described above and elsewhere herein anti-TF antibodies may be used to define subsets of cancer/tumor cells and characterize such cells and related tissues/growths.

In situ detection may be accomplished by removing a histological specimen from a patient, and providing the combination of labeled anti-TF antibodies, of the present invention to such a specimen. The anti-TF antibody of the present invention may be provided by applying or by overlaying the labeled anti-TF antibody of the present invention to a biological sample. Through the use of such a procedure, it is possible to determine not only the presence of TF or TF-fragments but also the distribution of such peptides in the examined tissue (e.g., in the context of assessing the spread of cancer cells). Using the present invention, those of ordinary skill will readily perceive that any of a wide variety of histological methods (such as staining procedures) may be modified in order to achieve such in situ detection.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to an anti-idiotypic antibody which binds to an anti-TF antibody of the invention as described herein.

An anti-idiotypic (Id) antibody is an antibody which recognizes unique determinants generally associated with the antigen-binding site of an antibody. An Id antibody may be prepared by immunizing an animal of the same species and genetic type as the source of an anti-TF mAb with the mAb to which an anti-Id is being prepared. The immunized animal typically can recognize and respond to the idiotypic determinants of the immunizing antibody by producing an antibody to these idiotypic determinants (the anti-Id antibody). Such antibodies are described in for instance U.S. Pat. No. 4,699,880. Such antibodies are further features of the present invention.

An anti-Id antibody may also be used as an “immunogen” to induce an immune response in yet another animal, producing a so-called anti-anti-Id antibody. An anti-anti-Id may be epitopically identical to the original mAb, which induced the anti-Id. Thus, by using antibodies to the idiotypic determinants of a mAb, it is possible to identify other clones expressing antibodies of identical specificity. Anti-Id antibodies may be varied (thereby producing anti-Id antibody variants) and/or derivatized by any suitable technique, such as those described elsewhere herein with respect to anti-TF antibodies of the present invention. For example, anti-Id mAbs may be coupled to a carrier such as keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) and used to immunize BALB/c mice. Sera from these mice typically will contain anti-anti-Id antibodies that have the binding properties similar if not identical to an original/parent TF antibody.

The present invention is further illustrated by the following examples which should not be construed as further limiting.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Expression Constructs for Tissue Factor (TF)

Fully codon-optimized constructs for expression of TF or its extracellular domains in HEK, NS0 or CHO cells, were generated. The proteins encoded by these constructs are identical to Genbank accession NP_001984 for TF. The constructs contained suitable restriction sites for cloning and an optimal Kozak sequence (Kozak, 1987). The constructs were cloned in the mammalian expression vector pEE13.4 (Lonza Biologics) (Bebbington, Renner et al. 1992), obtaining pEE13.4TF. PCR was used to amplify the part, encoding the extracellular domain (ECD) (amino acid 1-251) of TF, from the synthetic construct, adding a C-terminal His tag containing 6 His residues (TFECDHis). The construct was cloned in pEE13.4 and fully sequenced to confirm the correctness of the construct.

Example 2 Transient Expression in HEK-293F Cells

Freestyle™ 293-F (a HEK-293 subclone adapted to suspension growth and chemically defined Freestyle medium, (HEK-293F)) cells were obtained from Invitrogen and transfected with the appropriate plasmid DNA, using 293fectin (Invitrogen) according to the manufacturer's instructions. In the case of antibody expression, the appropriate heavy chain and light chain vectors, as described in Example 10, were co-expressed.

Example 3 Semi-Stable Expression in NS0 Cells

pEE13.4TF was stably transfected in NS0 cells and stable clones were selected on growth in the absence of glutamine and in the presence of 7.5 μM of methylsulphoximine (MSX). A pool of clones was grown in suspension culture while maintaining selection pressure. Pools were tested for TF expression by FACS analysis and secured for further use.

Example 4 Stable Expression in CHO Cells

pEE13.4TF was stably transfected in CHO-K1SV (Lonza Biologics) cells and stable clones were selected on growth in the absence of glutamine and in the presence of 50 μM MSX. Single clones were picked and expanded and tested for TF expression by FACS analysis as described below. High expressing clones were chosen and secured for further use.

Example 5 Purification of His-Tagged TF

TFECDhis was expressed I HEK-293F cells. The his-tag in TFECDHis enables purification with immobilized metal affinity chromatography. In this process, a chelator fixed onto the chromatographic resin is charged with Co²⁺ cations. TFECDHis-containing supernatant is incubated with the resin in batch mode (i.e. solution). The His-tagged protein binds strongly to the resin beads, while other proteins present in the culture supernatant do not bind strongly. After incubation the beads are retrieved from the supernatant and packed into a column. The column is washed in order to remove weakly bound proteins. The strongly bound TFECDHis proteins are then eluted with a buffer containing imidazole, which competes with the binding of His to Co²⁺. The eluent is removed from the protein by buffer exchange on a desalting column.

Example 6 Immunization Procedure of Transgenic Mice

HuMab mice were immunized every fortnight alternating with 5×10⁶ semi-stable transfected NS0-TF cells, or with 20 μg of TFECDHis protein. Eight immunizations were performed in total, four intraperitoneal (IP) and four subcutaneous (SC) immunizations at the tail base. The first immunization with cells was done in complete Freunds' adjuvant (CFA; Difco Laboratories, Detroit, MI, USA). For all other immunizations, cells were injected IP in PBS and TFECDHis was injected SC using incomplete Freunds' adjuvant (IFA; Difco Laboratories, Detroit, MI, USA). When serum titers were found to be sufficient (dilution of serum of 1/50 or lower found positive in antigen specific screening assay as described in Example 7 on at least 2 sequential, biweekly screening events), mice were additionally boosted twice intravenously (IV) with 10 μg TFECDHis protein in 100 μl PBS, 4 and 3 days before fusion.

The first immunization with cells was done in CFA, for all other (7) immunizations cells were injected IP in PBS. When serum titers were found to be sufficient, mice were additionally boosted twice IV with 1×10⁶ transiently semi-stable transfected NS0-TF cells in 100 μl PBS, 4 and 3 days before fusion.

When serum titers were found to be sufficient (defined as above), mice were additionally boosted twice intravenously (IV) with 10 μg TFECDHis protein in 100 μl PBS, 4 and 3 days before fusion.

Example 7 Homogeneous Antigen Specific Screening Assay

The presence of anti-TF antibodies in sera of immunized mice or HuMab (human monoclonal antibody) hybridoma or transfectoma culture supernatant was determined by homogeneous antigen specific screening assays (four quadrant) using Fluorometric Micro volume Assay Technology (FMAT; Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA).

For this, a combination of 3 cell based assays and one bead based assay was used. In the cell based assays, binding to TH1015-TF (HEK-293F cells transiently expressing TF; produced as described above) and A431 (which express TF at the cell surface) as well as HEK293 wild type cells (do not express TF, negative control) was determined. In the bead based assay, binding to biotinylated TF coupled on a streptavidin bead (SB1015-TF) was determined.

Samples were added to the cells/beads to allow binding to TF. Subsequently, binding of HuMab was detected using a fluorescent conjugate (Goat anti-Human IgG-Cy5; Jackson ImmunoResearch). Mouse anti-human TF antibody (ERL; coupled to Alexa-647 at Genmab) was used as positive control, HuMAb-mouse pooled serum and mouse-chrompure-Alexa647 antibody were used as negative controls. The samples were scanned using an Applied Biosystems 8200 Cellular Detection System (8200 CDS) and ‘counts×fluorescence’ was used as read-out.

Example 8 HuMab Hybridoma Generation

HuMab mice with sufficient antigen-specific titer development (defined as above) were euthanized and the spleen and lymph nodes flanking the abdominal aorta and vena cava were collected. Fusion of splenocytes and lymph node cells to a mouse myeloma cell line was done by electrofusion using a CEEF 50 Electrofusion System (Cyto Pulse Sciences, Glen Burnie, MD, USA), essentially according to the manufacturer's instructions. Selection and culturing of the resulting HuMab hybridomas was done based upon standard protocols (e.g. as described in Coligan J. E., Bierer, B. E., Margulies, D. H., Shevach, E. M. and Strober, W., eds. Current Protocols in Immunology, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2006).

Example 9 Mass Spectrometry of Purified Antibodies

Small aliquots of 0.8 ml antibody containing supernatant from 6-well or Hyperflask stage were purified using PhyTip columns containing Protein G resin (PhyNexus Inc., San Jose, USA) on a Sciclone ALH 3000 workstation (Caliper Lifesciences, Hopkinton, USA). The PhyTtip columns were used according to manufacturers instructions, but buffers were replaced by: Binding Buffer PBS (B. Braun, Medical B.V., Oss, Netherlands) and Elution Buffer 0.1M Glycine-HCl pH 2.7 (Fluka Riedel-de Haën, Buchs, Germany). After purification, samples were neutralized with 2M Tris-HCl pH 9.0 (Sigma-Aldrich, Zwijndrecht, Netherlands). Alternatively, in some cases larger volumes of culture supernatant were purified using Protein A affinity column chromatography.

After purification, the samples were placed in a 384-well plate (Waters, 100 ul square well plate, part #186002631). Samples were deglycosylated overnight at 37° C. with N-glycosidase F (Roche cat no 11365177001. DTT (15 mg/ml) was added (1 μl/well) and incubated for 1 h at 37° C. Samples (5 or 6 ul) were desalted on an Acquity UPLC™ (Waters, Milford, USA) with a BEH300 C18, 1.7 μm, 2.1×50 mm column at 60° C. MQ water and LC-MS grade acetonitrile (Biosolve, cat no 01204101, Valkenswaard, The Netherlands) with both 0.1% formic acid (Fluka, cat no 56302, Buchs, Germany), were used as Eluens A and B, respectively. Time-of-flight electrospray ionization mass spectra were recorded on-line on a micrOTOF™ mass spectrometer (Bruker, Bremen, Germany) operating in the positive ion mode. Prior to analysis, a 900-3000 m/z scale was calibrated with ES tuning mix (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, USA). Mass spectra were deconvoluted with DataAnalysis™ software v. 3.4 (Bruker) using the Maximal Entropy algorithm searching for molecular weights between 5 and 80 kDa.

After deconvolution the resulting heavy and light chain masses for all samples were compared in order to find duplicate antibodies. In the comparison of the heavy chains the possible presence of C-terminal lysine variants was taken into account. This resulted in a list of unique antibodies, where unique is defined as a unique combination of heavy and light chains. In case duplicate antibodies were found, the results from other tests were used to decide which was the best material to continue experiments with.

MS analysis of the molecular weights of heavy and light chains of 118 TF specific hybridomas yielded 70 unique antibodies (unique heavy chain/light chain combination). These were characterized in a number of functional assays, identifying 14 lead candidates, TF specific antibodies.

Example 10 Sequence Analysis of the Anti-TF HuMab Variable Domains and Cloning in Expression Vectors

Total RNA of the anti-TF HuMabs was prepared from 5×10⁶ hybridoma cells and 5′-RACE-Complementary DNA (cDNA) was prepared from 100 ng total RNA, using the SMART RACE cDNA Amplification kit (Clontech), according to the manufacturer's instructions. VH (variable region of heavy chain) and VL (variable region of light chain) coding regions were amplified by PCR and cloned into the pCR-Blunt II-TOPO vector (Invitrogen) using the Zero Blunt PCR cloning kit (Invitrogen). For each HuMab, 16 VL clones and 8 VH clones were sequenced. The sequences are given in the Sequence Listing and FIG. 1 herein.

Table 1A and Table 1B (below) give an overview of the antibody sequences information and most homologous germline sequences.

TABLE 1A Heavy chain homologies CDR- V-GENE V-REGION J-GENE D-GENE IMGT Ab and allele Identity, % and allele and allele lengths 003 IGHV1-69*02, or 97.57% IGHJ4*02 IGHD6- [8,8,11] IGHV1-69*04 (281/288 nt) 13*01 098 IGHV1-69*04 95.49% IGHJ3*02 IGHD2- [8,8,11] (275/288 nt) 21*02 011 IGHV3-23*01 96.53% IGHJ4*02 IGHD1- [8,8,11] (278/288 nt) 26*01 017 IGHV3-23*01 98.26% IGHJ2*01 IGHD2- [8,8,13] (283/288 nt) 15*01 092 IGHV3-23*01 97.92% IGHJ4*02 IGHD7- [8,8,11] (282/288 nt) 27*01 101 IGHV3-23*01 95.83% IGHJ4*02 IGHD7- [8,8,11] (276/288 nt) 27*01 025 IGHV3-30-3*01 97.57% IGHJ4*02 IGHD7- [8,8,13] (281/288 nt) 27*01 109 IGHV3-30-3*01 96.18% IGHJ4*02 IGHD7- [8,8,13] (277/288 nt) 27*01 111 IGHV3-30-3*01 97.57% IGHJ4*02 IGHD3- [8,8,13] (281/288 nt) 10*01 114 IGHV3-33*01, or 94.44% IGHJ6*02 IGHD3- [8,8,12] IGHV3-33*03 (272/288 nt) 10*01 013 IGHV5-51*01 99.65% IGHJ3*02 IGHD6- [8,8,19] (287/288 nt) 13*01

TABLE 1B Light chain homologies V-GENE V-REGION J-GENE CDR-IMGT Ab and allele identity % (nt) and allele lengths 003 IGKV1-13*02 99.28% (277/279 nt) IGKJ4*01 [6.3.9]  011 IGKV1D-16*01 98.57% (275/279 nt) IGKJ2*01 [6.3.9]  013 IGKV1D-16*01 98.57% (275/279 nt) IGKJ5*01 [6.3.9]  092 IGKVID-16*01 99.28% (277/279 nt) IGKJ2*01 [6.3.10] 098 IGKV1D-16*01 100.00% (279/279 nt) IGKJ2*01 [6.3.9]  101 IGKV1D-16*01 100.00% (279/279 nt) IGKJ2*01 [6.3.10] 025 IGKV3-11*01 100.00% (279/279 nt) IGKJ4*01 [6.3.9]  109 IGKV3-11*01 99.64% (278/279 nt) IGKJ4*01 [6.3.9]  017 IGKV3-20*01 99.29% (280/282 nt) IGKJ1*01 [7.3.9]  114 IGKV3-20*01 99.65% (281/282 nt) IGKJ4*01 [7.3.8] 

References to the Sequence Listing:

VH-region SEQ ID No: 1 VH 013 SEQ ID No: 2 VH 013, CDR1 SEQ ID No: 3 VH 013, CDR2 SEQ ID No: 4 VH 013, CDR3 SEQ ID No: 5 VH 114 SEQ ID No: 6 VH 114, CDR1 SEQ ID No: 7 VH 114, CDR2 SEQ ID No: 8 VH 114, CDR3 SEQ ID No: 9 VH 011 SEQ ID No: 10 VH 011, CDR1 SEQ ID No: 11 VH 011, CDR2 SEQ ID No: 12 VH 011, CDR3 SEQ ID No: 13 VH 017-D12 SEQ ID No: 14 VH 017-D12, CDR1 SEQ ID No: 15 VH 017-D12, CDR2 SEQ ID No: 16 VH 017-D12, CDR3 SEQ ID No: 17 VH 042 SEQ ID No: 18 VH 042, CDR1 SEQ ID No: 19 VH 042, CDR2 SEQ ID No: 20 VH 042, CDR3 SEQ ID No: 21 VH 092-A09 SEQ ID No: 22 VH 092-A09, CDR1 SEQ ID No: 23 VH 092-A09, CDR2 SEQ ID No: 24 VH 092-A09, CDR3 SEQ ID No: 25 VH 101 SEQ ID No: 26 VH 101, CDR1 SEQ ID No: 27 VH 101, CDR2 SEQ ID No: 28 VH 101, CDR3 SEQ ID No: 29 VH 003 SEQ ID No: 30 VH 003, CDR1 SEQ ID No: 31 VH 003, CDR2 SEQ ID No: 32 VH 003, CDR3 SEQ ID No: 33 VH 025 SEQ ID No: 34 VH 025, CDR1 SEQ ID No: 35 VH 025, CDR2 SEQ ID No: 36 VH 025, CDR3 SEQ ID No: 37 VH 109 SEQ ID No: 38 VH 109, CDR1 SEQ ID No: 39 VH 109, CDR2 SEQ ID No: 40 VH 109, CDR3 SEQ ID No: 41 VH 044 SEQ ID No: 42 VH 044, CDR1 SEQ ID No: 43 VH 044, CDR2 SEQ ID No: 44 VH 044, CDR3 SEQ ID No: 45 VH 087-Lg6 SEQ ID No: 46 VH 087-Lg6, CDR1 SEQ ID No: 47 VH 087-Lg6, CDR2 SEQ ID No: 48 VH 087-Lg6, CDR3 SEQ ID No: 49 VH 098 SEQ ID No: 50 VH 098, CDR1 SEQ ID No: 51 VH 098, CDR2 SEQ ID No: 52 VH 098, CDR3 SEQ ID No: 53 VH 111 SEQ ID No: 54 VH 111, CDR1 SEQ ID No: 55 VH 111, CDR2 SEQ ID No: 56 VH 111, CDR3 VL-region SEQ ID No: 57 VL 013 SEQ ID No: 58 VL 013, CDR1 SEQ ID No: 59 VL 013, CDR2 SEQ ID No: 60 VL 013, CDR3 SEQ ID No: 61 VL 114 SEQ ID No: 62 VL 114, CDR1 SEQ ID No: 63 VL 114, CDR2 SEQ ID No: 64 VL 114, CDR3 SEQ ID No: 65 VL 011 SEQ ID No: 66 VL 011, CDR1 SEQ ID No: 67 VL 011, CDR2 SEQ ID No: 68 VL 011, CDR3 SEQ ID No: 69 VL 017-D12 SEQ ID No: 70 VL 017-D12, CDR1 SEQ ID No: 71 VL 017-D12, CDR2 SEQ ID No: 72 VL 017-D12, CDR3 SEQ ID No: 73 VL 042 SEQ ID No: 74 VL 042, CDR1 SEQ ID No: 75 VL 042, CDR2 SEQ ID No: 76 VL 042, CDR3 SEQ ID No: 77 VL 092-A09 SEQ ID No: 78 VL 092-A09, CDR1 SEQ ID No: 79 VL 092-A09, CDR2 SEQ ID No: 80 VL 092-A09, CDR3 SEQ ID No: 81 VL 101 SEQ ID No: 82 VL 101, CDR1 SEQ ID No: 83 VL 101, CDR2 SEQ ID No: 84 VL 101, CDR3 SEQ ID No: 85 VL 003 SEQ ID No: 86 VL 003, CDR1 SEQ ID No: 87 VL 003, CDR2 SEQ ID No: 88 VL 003, CDR3 SEQ ID No: 89 VL 025 SEQ ID No: 90 VL 025, CDR1 SEQ ID No: 91 VL 025, CDR2 SEQ ID No: 92 VL 025, CDR3 SEQ ID No: 93 VL 109 SEQ ID No: 94 VL 109, CDR1 SEQ ID No: 95 VL 109, CDR2 SEQ ID No: 96 VL 109, CDR3 SEQ ID No: 97 VL 044 SEQ ID No: 98 VL 044, CDR1 SEQ ID No: 99 VL 044, CDR2 SEQ ID No: 100 VL 044, CDR3 SEQ ID No: 101 VL 087 SEQ ID No: 102 VL 087, CDR1 SEQ ID No: 103 VL 087, CDR2 SEQ ID No: 104 VL 087, CDR3 SEQ ID No: 105 VL 098 SEQ ID No: 106 VL 098, CDR1 SEQ ID No: 107 VL 098, CDR2 SEQ ID No: 108 VL 098, CDR3 SEQ ID No: 109 VL 111 SEQ ID No: 110 VL 111, CDR1 SEQ ID No: 111 VL 111, CDR2 SEQ ID No: 112 VL 111, CDR3

Example 11 Purification of Antibodies

Culture supernatant was filtered over 0.2 μm dead-end filters and loaded on 5 ml Protein A columns (rProtein A FF, Amersham Bioscience) and eluted with 0.1 M citric acid-NaOH, pH 3. The eluate was immediately neutralized with 2M Tris-HCl, pH 9 and dialyzed overnight to 12.6 mM NaH₂PO₄, 140 mM NaCl, pH 7.4 (B. Braun). After dialysis samples were sterile filtered over 0.2 μm dead-end filters. Purity was determined by SDS-PAGE and concentration was measured by nephelometry and absorbance at 280 nm. Purified antibodies were aliquoted and stored at −80° C. Once thawed, purified antibody aliquots were kept at 4° C. Mass spectrometry was performed to identify the molecular mass of the antibody heavy and light chains expressed by the hybridomas as described in Example 9.

Example 12 Antibody Cross-Competition Studies Using Sandwich-ELISA

ELISA plate wells were coated overnight at +4° C. with each of the anti-TF HuMabs (0.5 or 2 μg/ml 100 μL/well) diluted in PBS. The ELISA wells were washed with PBS, blocked for one hour at room temperature with 2% (v/v) chicken serum (Gibco, Paisley, Scotland) in PBS and washed again with PBS. Subsequently, 50 μL anti-TF HuMab (10 μg/mL) followed by 50 μL TFECDHis (0.5 or 1 μg/ml) (generated at Genmab; Example 5) was added, and incubated for 1 hour at RT (while shaking). Plates were washed 3 times with PBST (PBS+0.05% tween), and incubated with 1:2000 diluted anti-his biotin BAM050 for one hour at RT (while shaking). Plates were washed and incubated with Streptavidin-poly-HRP (Sanquin, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) for 20 minutes at RT, and washed again. The reaction was further developed with ABTS (Roche Diagnostics) at RT in the dark, stopped after 15 minutes by adding 2% (w/v) oxalic acid and the absorbance at 405 nm was measured.

Table 2 shows that 3 cross-block groups (groups of antibodies competing with each other for TFECDHis binding) could be identified, with antibodies 013, 044 and 087-Lg6 belonging to one cross-block group (group I), antibodies 011, 017-D12, 42, 092-A09 and 101 belonging to another cross-block group (group II), and antibodies 003, 025, 109 and 111 belonging to a third cross-block group (group III). Antibody 114 was found to compete for TFECDHis binding with antibodies from both cross-block group II and III. Antibody 098 binding to TFECDHis could be competed for by antibodies from both cross-block group II and III.

TABLE 2 Competition of anti-TF antibodies for binding to TFECDHis. competitor I II antibody 0.5 ug coat 2 ug coat 2 ug coat 0.5 ug coat 0.5 ug coat 0.5 ug coat 0.5 ug coat 0.5 ug coat (10 ug/ml) 13 44 087-Lg6 11 017-D12 42 092-A09 101 13 19 5 28 101 100 98 110 98 44 93 40 29 109 96 96 103 109 087-Lg6 91 54 41 103 93 95 109 93 11 96 143 929 20 34 35 21 23 017-D12 97 143 995 14 25 20 8 12 42 99 143 931 18 28 27 10 17 092-A09 95 143 995 22 37 37 32 24 101 96 100 714 10 15 15 10 12 114 101 143 995 21 34 34 19 22 98 95 143 995 90 93 97 91 86 3 84 118 770 100 95 91 96 88 25 102 143 995 117 96 108 111 100 109 96 143 995 101 100 101 99 102 111 89 143 995 110 93 102 95 108 competitor II/III III antibody 0.5 ug coat 2 ug coat 0.5 ug coat 0.5 ug coat 0.5 ug coat 2 ug coat (10 ug/ml) 114 98 3 25 109 111 13 105 320 85 89 110 175 44 105 330 80 108 94 175 087-Lg6 107 210 88 105 103 115 11 19 9 103 104 109 175 017-D12 9 9 100 108 97 175 42 24 8 98 93 111 155 092-A09 22 10 103 108 101 175 101 11 7 96 108 106 118 114 13 9 100 47 26 5 98 94 24 103 94 86 35 3 102 10 33 22 10 6 25 28 10 48 34 11 6 109 44 9 62 51 17 6 111 99 37 89 104 93 43

White boxes indicate no competition for binding, light grey boxes indicate partial competition for binding, and dark grey boxes indicate competition for binding to TFECDHis.

Example 13 Binding of Anti-TF HuMabs to the Extracellular Domain of TF in ELISA

The specificity of the obtained anti-TF HuMabs was evaluated by ELISA. ELISA plates (Microlon; Greiner Bio-One) were coated overnight at +4° C. with 0.5 μg/mL of TFECDHis in PBS, pH 7.4. Coated ELISA plates were emptied and blocked for one hour at room temperature with 2% (v/v) chicken serum (Gibco, Paisley, Scotland) in PBS and washed with PBS containing 0.05% Tween 20 (PBST). Subsequently, HuMabs, serially diluted in PBSTC (PBS supplemented with 2% (v/v) chicken serum and 0.05% (v/v) Tween-20), were incubated for 1 hr at RT under shaking conditions (300 rpm). Bound HuMabs were detected using HRP-conjugated goat-anti-human IgG antibodies (Jackson ImmunoResearch) diluted 1:5,000 in PBSTC, which were incubated for 1 hr at RT under shaking conditions (300 rpm). The reaction was further developed with ABTS (Roche Diagnostics) at RT in the dark, stopped after 15-30 minutes by adding 2% (w/v) oxalic acid and then the absorbance at 405 nm was measured. HuMab-KLH (a human monoclonal antibody against KLH (keyhole limpet haemocyanin)), was used as a negative control. Mouse anti-human TF (ERL) was used as positive control (HRP labeled anti-mouse IgG as conjugate). Binding curves were analyzed using non-linear regression (sigmoidal dose-response with variable slope) using GraphPad Prism V4.03 software.

As can been seen in FIG. 3 , all of the anti-TF antibodies bound TFECDHis. The EC₅₀ values for the HuMabs are the mean of 3 experiments and varied between 0.09 and 0.46 nM (Table 3 below).

TABLE 3 HuMab EC50 group TF nM I 13 0.24 I 44 0.14 I 87-Lg6 0.09 II 11 0.16 II 017-D12 0.25 II 42 0.23 II 092-A09 0.18 II 101 0.28 II/III 98 0.13 II/III 114 0.17 III 3 0.46 III 25 0.34 III 109 0.27 III 111 0.11

Example 14 Binding of Anti-TF HuMabs to Membrane-Bound TF

Binding of anti-TF HuMabs to membrane-bound TF was determined by FACS analysis, using TF transfected CHO cells, or TF expressing tumor cell lines MDA-MB-231, (luciferase transfected) A431 and Bx-PC3.

Cells were resuspended in PBS (2×10⁶ cells/ml), put in 96-well V-bottom plates (50 μl/well). 50 μl of serially diluted HuMab in FACS buffer (PBS supplemented with 0.1% BSA and 0.02% Na-azide) was added to the cells and incubated for 30 minutes on ice. After washing three times with FACS buffer, 50 μl of phycoerythrin (PE)-conjugated goat anti-human IgGFc (Jackson ImmunoResearch), diluted 1:100 in FACS buffer, was added. After 30 minutes on ice (in the dark), cells were washed three times, and specific binding of the HuMabs was detected by flow cytometry on a FACSCalibur (BD Biosciences). HuMab-KLH was used as a negative control. Mouse anti-TF followed by PE-conjugated anti-mouse IgGFc was used as positive control. Binding curves were analyzed using non-linear regression (sigmoidal dose-response with variable slope) using GraphPad Prism V4.03 software (GraphPad Software, San Diego, CA, USA).

FIG. 4 shows an example of binding curves of TF-specific HuMabs to MDA-MB-231 cells. Table 4 gives an overview of EC50 values of binding of TF-specific HuMabs to TF transfected CHO cells (S1015-TF), MDA-MB-231, A431 and Bx-PC3 cells.

TABLE 4 Overview of EC50 and maximum mean fluorescence index (max MFI) values determined by FACS analysis of binding of TF-specific HuMabs to different cell types. MDA-MB-231 Bx-PC3 A431 S1015-TF-012 group HuMab TF EC50 Max MFI EC50 Max MFI EC50 Max MFI EC50 Max MFI I 13 1.58 2451 1.86 1305 8.04 3622 1.07 5207 I 44 0.87 1881 1.88 1136 1.45 2646 2.13 5021 I 87-Lg6 8.28 1107 7.19 1030 nt nt nt nt II 11 0.47 2143 1.01 1280 0.20 2606 1.32 5654 II 017-D12 1.33 2401 1.61 1422 1.24 3296 1.21 5792 II 42 0.25 1518 2.45 1701 nt nt nt nt II 092-A09 0.53 2290 0.84 1262 0.83 3137 1.32 5409 II 101 0.85 2071 2.25 1220 3.16 2934 1.77 5859 II/III 98 0.99 1956 1.38 1151 1.40 2755 0.96 5229 II/III 114 0.47 2438 0.80 1407 0.90 3433 1.72 6095 III 3 3.20 1798 4.98 1106 6.94 2530 2.06 4247 III 25 0.69 2254 0.88 1320 5.19 3170 0.73 5808 III 109 2.16 2052 4.04 1324 1.74 3124 0.92 5629 III 111 1.03 1774 1.83 1128 2.88 3043 0.55 5353 EC50 values are in nM. Max MFI for MDA-MB-231, BxPC3 and A431 cells at 30 μg/mL antibody, for S1015-TF at 7.5 μg/mL antibody.

Example 15 Inhibition of FVIIa Binding to TF

Inhibition of binding of FVIIa to TFECDHis by TF-HuMabs was measured by ELISA. ELISA plates were coated overnight with TFECDHis (0.5 μg/mL, 100 μL per well). Plates were emptied, blocked with PBS containing 2% (v/v) chicken serum (1 hour, RT), and emptied again. 4-fold serial dilutions of TF-HuMabs or HuMab-KLH (negative control) were added to the wells followed by FVIIa at EC50 concentration (100 nM), and plates incubated for 1 hour at RT (while shaking, 300 rpm). Plates were washed and incubated with rabbit-anti-FVIIa (2.5 μg/mL; Abcam) as above. Plates were washed and incubated with swine-anti-rabbit IgG-HRP antibody (1:2,500; DAKO). After washing, the immune complexes were visualized using ABTS as a substrate. The reaction was stopped by the addition of 2% v/v oxalic acid followed by optical density measurement at 405 nm using an ELISA reader. The concentration of antibody needed to obtain 50% inhibition (IC50) was calculated using GraphPad prism (non linear regression analysis).

FIG. 5 shows that antibodies from cross-block groups II and III efficiently inhibited FVIIa binding to TF, while antibodies from cross-block group I did not (or to a much lesser extent) inhibited FVIIa binding.

Table 5 shows IC50 values and maximum inhibition values (percentage) of inhibition of FVIIa binding to TF by TF-specific HuMabs.

TABLE 5 IC50 values and maximum inhibition values (percentage) of inhibition of FVIIa binding to TF by TF-specific HuMabs group HuMab TF IC50 nM max inhibition I 13 19.3 27 I 44 0.8 54 I 87-Lg6 na 35 II 11 1.1 91 II 017-D12 1.9 90 II 42 2.7 88 II 092-A09 1.5 90 II 101 0.6 84 II/III 98 0.8 85 II/III 114 1.3 90 III 3 1.9 89 III 25 2.1 90 III 109 1.7 90 III 111 1.7 79

Example 16 Inhibition of FVIIa Induced ERK Phosphorylation

Upon binding of coagulation factor VIIa (FVIIa) to TF, phosphorylation of mitogen activated kinase (p42 and p44 MAPK or ERK1 and ERK2) is triggered. The epidermoid carcinoma cell line A431 expresses high levels of TF, and after stimulation with FVIIa an optimal (3 to 5 fold) ERK phosphorylation (ERK-P), measured using the AlphaScreen Surefire ERK assay (Perkin Elmer), is induced within 10 minutes.

A431 cells (30,000 cells per well) were seeded in 96 well TC plates, and cultured O/N (37° C., 5% CO₂, 85% humidity) in serum-free medium (RPMI containing 20% HSA and penicillin/streptomycin). Medium was then replaced by DMEM (without additives) and cells were incubated for 1.5 hours. 3 fold serial dilutions of TF-HuMabs or HuMab-KLH were added and cells incubated for 0.5 hours. Cells were then stimulated with FVIIa at EC80 concentration (50 nM; 10 minutes; 37° C., 5% CO₂, 85% humidity). Cells were washed once with PBS, and lysed using 25 μL lysis buffer (Perkin Elmer, Surefire kit). Lysates were centrifuged (3 minutes, 330×g, RT). Four μL of supernatant was transferred to 384 well Proxiplates (Perkin Elmer). 7 μl Reaction buffer/Activation buffer mix containing AlphaScreen beads (Perkin Elmer Surefire kit) was added, and plates were incubated in the dark for 2 hours at RT. Plates were read using the “Surefire Plus” protocol from EnVision technology.

FIG. 6 shows that, measured using the AlphaScreen Surefire ERK assay, antibody 013 does not inhibit FVIIa induced ERK phosphorylation, 044 and 111 moderately inhibit ERK phosphorylation, and all other antibodies efficiently block ERK phosphorylation.

Table 6 shows IC50 values and maximum inhibition values (percentage) of inhibition of FVIIa induced ERK phosphorylation by TF-specific HuMabs, measured using the AlphaScreen Surefire ERK assay.

TABLE 6 IC50 values and maximum inhibition values (percentage) of inhibition of FVIIa induced ERK phosphorylation (measured using the AlphaScreen Surefire ERK assay) by TF-specific HuMabs. group HuMab TF IC50 nM % max inhibition I 13 9.11 26 I 44 >66.6 45 I 87-Lg6 nt nt II 11 0.79 69 II 017-D12 2.01 65 II 42 nt nt Q 092-A09 1.27 68 II 101 1.05 57 II/III 98 1.89 64 II/III 114 1.08 68 III 3 7.99 63 III 25 2.16 66 III 109 2.42 72 III 111 >66.6 52

The results obtained in the AlphaScreen Surefire ERK assay were confirmed by Western Blot analysis, using HaCaT and BxPC3 cell lines. 30,000 cells/well were seeded in DMEM containing minimal concentrations of serum (starvation medium), and cultured overnight. Cells were further cultured for 2 hours in DMEM without serum, anti-TF antibodies were added during the final 30 minutes of culture. Cell were stimulated with 0, 10 or 50 nM FVIIa for 10 minutes (37° C.), and subsequently lysed in cell lysis buffer (50 μL lysis buffer per well, 30-60 minutes lysis under shaking condition, RT). 25 μL SDS containing sample buffer was added to each sample. Samples were loaded onto SDS-PAGE gels, run and blotted using standard procedures for Western blotting. Blots were blocked with TBST1× containing 5% irrelevant protein (ELK) for 1 hour at RT. Blots were incubated with rabbit anti-ERK-P antibody (0/N, 4° C.). Blots were washed with TBST1×, and incubated with anti-rabbit IgG HRP (1 hour, RT), washed, developed using HRP substrate and imaged using Optigo Ultima Imaging system (Isogen Life Sciences).

FIG. 6A shows the results in BxPC3 cells for a sub-panel of antibodies. ERK phosphorylation induced by 10 nM of FVIIa was not inhibited by antibody 013, while it was efficiently inhibited by antibodies 111, 044 and 025 (the latter as an example for all other TF-specific HuMabs described here). Stronger induced ERK phosphorylation (50 nM FVIIa) was not inhibited by antibodies 013, 111 and 044, but was inhibited by antibody 025.

Example 17 Inhibition of FVIIa Induced IL-8 Release

The ability of TF specific HuMabs to inhibit FVIIa induced release of IL-8 was tested using MDA-MB-231 cells. Cells were seeded into 96 well plates (60,000 cells/well) and cultured (O/N, 37° C., 5% CO₂) in DMEM containing CS, sodium pyruvate, 1-glutamine, MEM NEAA and penicillin/streptomycin. Tissue culture medium was removed, cells were washed twice in serum free, high calcium medium (DMEM containing penicillin/streptomycin), and cultured in this medium for an additional 105 minutes. Serial dilutions of antibodies were added, and cells cultured for 15 minutes. FVIIa (Novo Nordisk; final concentration 10 nM) was added and cells were cultured for 5 hours. Supernatant was removed and centrifuged (300×g, RT). IL-8 concentrations in the supernatant were measured using an IL-8 ELISA kit according to the manufacturer's protocol (Sanquin).

FIG. 7 shows that antibodies from cross-block groups II and III efficiently inhibited FVIIa induced IL-8 release by MDA-MB-231 cells, with the exception of antibody 111 from cross-block group III. Antibodies from cross-block group I (013, 044 and 87-Lg6) all did not inhibit FVIIa induced IL-8 release.

Table 7 shows IC50 values and maximum inhibition values (percentage) of inhibition of FVIIa induced IL-8 release by TF-specific HuMabs.

TABLE 7 IC50 values and maximum inhibition values (percentage) of inhibition of FVIIa induced IL-8 release by TF-specific HuMabs. group HuMab TF IC50 nM max inhibition I 13 na −0.3 I 44 74.6 17.2 I 87-Lg6 na 4.3 II 11 9.4 61.7 II 017-D12 9.0 65.8 II 42 14.9 53.7 Q 092-A09 25.2 66.6 II 101 22.7 74.9 II/III 98 9.3 59.0 II/III 114 9.2 71.5 III 3 23.7 76.2 III 25 23.1 75.6 III 109 13.6 70.4 III 111 >200 40.1

Example 18 Inhibition of FXa Generation

The ability of TF specific HuMabs to inhibit FXa generation was tested in an assay in which conversion of FX into FXa by the TF/FVIIa complex is measured using a colometric FXa specific substrate. TF (Innovin) was added to flatbottom 96 well plates, together with a serial dilution of TF specific HuMabs, positive control (mouse anti-TF) of negative control (HuMab-KLH)(all diluted in Hepes buffer containing 3 mM CaCl₂. Plates were incubated for 30 minutes at RT, and FVIIa (final concentration 1 nM) and FX (ERL; final concentration 200 nM) was added. Plates were incubated 30 minutes at 37° C. 50 μl from each well was transferred to a 96 well plate containing (pre-heated, 37° C.) stop-buffer (5 mM EDTA in 100 ml Hepes buffer). FXa specific substrate Chromogenix-2765 (Instrumation Laboratory Company) was added, plates incubated for 60 minutes at 37° C. and OD405 nm at 37° C. was measured.

FIG. 8 shows that antibody 017-D12 strongly inhibited FXa generation, 013 demonstrated intermediate inhibition and other antibodies showed low to no inhibition of FXa generation.

Table 8 shows IC50 values and maximum inhibition values (percentage) of inhibition of FXa generation by TF-specific HuMabs.

TABLE 8 IC50 values and maximum inhibition values (percentage) of inhibition of FXa generation by TF-specific HuMabs. HuMab % max group TF IC50 nM inhibition I 13 0.05 31 I 44 NA 3 I 87-Lg6 nt nt II 11 0.05 26 II 017-D12 0.28 84 II 42 nt nt II 092-A09 0.30 21 II 101 nt nt II/III 98 0.43 14 II/III 114 0.24 21 III 3 0.07 21 III 25 0.30 19 III 109 0.09 18 III 111 0.07 7

Example 19 Inhibition of Blood Coagulation

Inhibition of blood coagulation by TF-HuMabs was measured in an assay determining TF induced clotting time. Mixtures of 17 μl 100 mM CaCl₂ (final conc. 17 mM), 10 μl 1:100 innovin (final conc. 1:1000), 23 μl 1×HEPES-buffer and 50 μl serially diluted antibody were prepared in 96 well plates. Fifty jai pooled human plasma was added to wells of Immulon 2B plates (Thermo Electron). Fifty μl of the prepared antibody mixtures was added to the Immulon 2b plates, and coagulation development at 405 nm was measured every 15 sec for 25 min using a kinetic plate reader. The increase in optical density was plotted in time and clotting time (t½) was calculated. Clotting time was plotted against antibody concentration. IC50 of antibody induced inhibition of coagulation was calculated from this by non linear regression analysis using GraphPad Prism.

FIG. 9 shows that antibody 044, 087 and 111 did not inhibit TF induced blood coagulation, whereas all other antibodies did.

Table 9 shows IC50 values of inhibition of blood coagulation by TF-specific HuMabs.

TABLE 9 IC50 values of inhibition of blood coagulation by TF-specific HuMabs. group HuMab TF IC50 nM I 13 0.6 I 44 NA I 87-Lg6 NA II 11 1.6 II 017-D12 2.6 II 42 1.5 Q 092-A09 0.2 II 101 0.7 II/III 98 1.1 II/III 114 0.4 III 3 7.3 III 25 2.3 III 109 7.6 III 111 NA

Example 20 Antibody-Dependent Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity Preparation of Target Cells:

TF expressing target cells (5×10⁶ Bx-PC3 cells, MDA-MB-231 cells or A431 cells) were harvested, washed (twice in PBS, 1500 rpm, 5 mM) and collected in 1 ml RPMI 1640 culture medium supplemented with Cosmic Calf Serum, Sodium Pyruvate, L-Glutamine, MEM NEAA and Penicillin/Streptomycin, to which 100 μCi ⁵¹Cr (Chromium-51; Amersham Biosciences Europe GmbH, Roosendaal, The Netherlands) was added. The mixture was incubated in a shaking water bath for 1 hr at 37° C. After washing of the cells (twice in PBS, 1500 rpm, 5 min), the cells were resuspended in culture medium and viable cells counted by trypan blue exclusion. Viable cells were brought to a concentration of 1×10⁵ cells/ml.

Preparation of Effector Cells:

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from fresh buffy coats (Sanquin, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) using standard Ficoll density centrifugation according to the manufacturer's instructions (lymphocyte separation medium; Lonza, Verviers, France). After resuspension of cells in culture medium, cells were counted by trypan blue exclusion and brought to a concentration of 1×10⁷ cells/ml.

ADCC Set Up:

50 μl of ⁵¹Cr-labeled targets cells were transferred to microtiter wells, and 50 μl of serially diluted antibody was added, diluted in culture medium. Cells were incubated (RT, 15 min), and 50 μl effector cells were added, resulting in an effector to target ratio of 100:1. To determine the maximum level of lysis, 100 μl 5% Triton-X100 was added instead of effector cells; to determine the spontaneous level of lysis, 100 μl culture medium was added; to determine the level of antibody independent lysis, 50 μl effector cells and 50 μl culture medium was added). Subsequently, cells were incubated 0/N at 37° C., 5% CO₂. After spinning down the cells (1200 rpm, 3 min), 75 μl of supernatant was transferred to micronic tubes. The released ⁵¹Cr was counted in a gamma counter and the percentage of antibody mediated lysis was calculated as follows:

((cpm sample−cpm antibody independent lysis)/(cpm maximal lysis−cpm spontaneous lysis))×100%

wherein cpm is counts per minute.

FIG. 10 shows that all tested TF-HuMabs induced lysis of Bx-PC3 cells by ADCC, albeit with different efficiencies (EC50).

Table 10 shows EC50 values (nM) of ADCC of different cell lines by TF-specific HuMabs.

TABLE 10 EC50 values (nM) of ADCC of different cell lines by TF-specific HuMabs. MDA-MB-231 Bx-PC3 A431 group HuMab TF EC50 EC50 EC50 I 13 0.06 0.07 0.11 I 44 0.08 0.12 0.19 I 87-Lg6 nt nt nt II 11 0.07 0.22 0.06 II 017-D12 0.14 0.13 0.18 II 42 nt nt nt II 092-A09 0.11 0.13 0.22 II 101 0.10 0.09 0.01 II/III 98 0.15 0.02 0.07 II/III 114 0.07 0.07 0.08 III 3 0.29 0.17 0.58 III 25 0.24 0.15 0.16 III 109 0.12 0.06 0.13 III 111 0.84 0.22 1.56

Example 21 Complement Deposition

Deposition of complement fragments C3c and C4c to TF-HuMab incubated target cells was measured by FACS analysis. TF expressing target cells (Bx-PC3 or MDA-MB-231 cells) were plated in 96 well round bottom plates (1×10e5 cells/well) in RPMI containing 1% BSA. Antibody (30 μg/mL) was added and cells incubated at RT for 15 minutes. Twenty-five μL pooled human serum was added as a source of complement, heat inactivated human serum was used to determine spontaneous complement binding. Cells were incubated at 37° C. for 45 minutes. Cells were washed once, and incubated with anti-human C3c FITC or anti-human C4c FITC (DAKO) in FACS buffer, and incubated for 30 minutes on ice. Samples were analyzed using FACS Canto.

FIG. 11 shows that antibodies from cross-block group I did not induce C3c or C4c deposition on either BxPC3 or MDA-MB-231 cells. All tested antibodies from cross-block group II did induce C3c and C4c deposition, as did antibodies from cross-block group III, with the exception of antibody 003.

Example 22 Avidity/Affinity Studies Determination of Affinity:

Antibody binding to TF was analyzed by surface plasmon resonance in a BIAcore 3000 (GE Healthcare). TFECDHis was used for the analysis. HuMab antibodies (500 resonance units) were immobilized on the CM-5 sensor chip according to the procedure recommended by the manufacturer. Briefly, after surface activation by EDC and NHS HuMab antibody was injected over the activated CM-5 surface in 10 mM sodium-acetate, pH ranging from 4.0 to 5.5 at 5 μl/min followed by 1 M Ethanolamine for deactivation. Concentration series of TFECDHis in HBS-EP buffer were injected over the immobilized antibodies at a flow rate of 30 μl/min for 180 sec. Regeneration of the HuMab surface was performed by injection of 10 mM Glycine-HCl pH 2.0 or 10 mM sodium acetate pH 3.0. Kinetic analysis was performed using double reference subtraction and model 1:1 (langmuir) binding analysis.

Table 11 shows for most HuMabs the determined affinity in (sub) nanomolar range. Not from all antibodies the kinetic parameters could be determined. 044 did give a high variation in off-rates (kd) and had high residuals, which means that the fitting of the curves was not well. 098, 111 and 087-Lg6 had off-rates which where too high for the Biacore 3000 to measure.

TABLE 11 Kinetic constants of TF-HuMabs for reactivity with TFECDHis-affinity measurements. group HuMab TF affinity nM ka (1/Ms) kd (1/s) I 13 2.78 5.67E=05 1.57E−03 I 44 n.a. 8.77E+04 variable I 87-Lg6 n.a. 5.91E+05 n.a. II 11 3.15 2.83E+05 9.02E−04 II 017-D12 2.55 1.02E+05 2.59E−04 II 42 4.22 1.64E+05 6.90E−04 Q 092-A09 14.1 1.42E+05 2.00E−03 II 101 3.4 3.18E+05 1.07E−03 II/III 98 n.a. 2.90E+05 n.a. II/III 114 11 1.77E+05 1.95E−03 III 3 4.51 2.33E+05 1.26E−03 III 25 1.97 3.29E+05 6.50E−04 III 109 4.75 1.65E+05 7.77E−04 III 111 n.a. 2.13E+05 n.a. n.a. not assessable => 10⁻³ sec⁻¹

Determination of Avidity:

TF (TFECDHis) binding to TF-specific HuMabs was determined essentially as described above, with TFECDHis being immobilized on the CM-5 sensor chip (300 resonance units), and concentration series of Humab antibodies used for kinetic analysis. Kinetic analysis was performed using double reference subtraction and model 1:1 (langmuir) binding analysis.

Table 12 shows avidity measurements for antibodies 11, 98, 109 and 111. Whereas affinity measurements for 98 and 111 indicated high-off rates (beyond the limits of determination by Biacore (i.e. >10⁻³)), avidity determination revealed interaction in the nanomolar range.

TABLE 12 Kinetic constants of TFECDHIS for reactivity with TF-HuMabs-avidity measurements. Group HuMab TF avidity nM II 11 0.47 II/III 98 4.85 III 109 0.01 III 111 0.11

Example 23 Immunohistochemical Analysis of Binding to Normal Human Tissues and Pancreatic Tumors

Binding of TF-HuMabs to various human tissues known to express TF (colon, heart, kidney, skin, lung and brain) was determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC).

IHC on Frozen Tissue

Frozen tissue sections were cut (4-6 μm thickness) and fixated in acetone. Endogenous tissue peroxidase (PO) was blocked and tissue slides were pre-incubated with normal human serum to prevent aspecific binding of later applied antibodies to endogenous Fc receptors. Mouse-Ab directed against human TF (and negative control mouse Ab) was applied at the tissues at optimal dilution and subsequently detected with Powervision-PO (Goat anti-mouse/-rabbit IgG)-PO. TF-specific HuMabs were coupled to Fab′ goat anti-human IgG (Fc)-FITC and thereafter applied to the frozen tissue slides at 3 dilutions, including a pre-determined optimal dilution. Subsequently the HuMab-Fab-FITC complex was detected by rabbit anti-FITC and Powervision-PO. PO activity was visualized with AEC as substrate and nuclei were visualized with hematoxylin. Staining was analyzed by brightfield microscope.

IHC with Mouse Ab on Formalin Fixated and Paraffin Embedded (FFPE) Tissue

FFPE tissue biopsies were cut at 4 μm, de-paraffinized, blocked for endogenous tissue peroxidase and subjected to antigen retrieval (pH6, citrate buffer). Prior to the incubation with the mouse-Ab tissue slides were preincubated in normal human serum to prevent aspecific binding to endogenous Fc receptors. Mouse Ab directed against human TF (and negative control mouse Ab) was applied to the tissue slides at optimal dilution and subsequently detected with Powervision-PO (Goat anti-mouse/-rabbit IgG)-PO. PO activity was visualized with AEC as substrate and nuclei were visualized with hematoxylin. Staining was analyzed by brightfield microscope.

FIG. 12 shows an example of binding of antibody 013 (positive staining), 011 (positive staining), 114 (positive staining) and 111 (intermediate staining) to kidney glomeruli. Antibody 098 and 044 did not bind glomeruli.

Table 13 gives an overview of staining results for all TF-HuMabs in human kidney all tissues examined

TABLE 13 IHC staining of human glomeruli IHC human Group HuMab TF glomeruli I 13 + I 44 — I 87-Lg6 nt II 11 + II 017-D12 + II 42 nt II 092-A09 nt II 101 + II/III 98 — II/III 114 + III 3 + III 25 nt III 109 + III 111 +/−

Table 14 gives an overview of staining results of selected TF-specific HuMabs in human kidney, colon, heart, cerebrum and skin as well as in human pancreatic tumors.

TABLE 14 IHC staining of normal human tissue and pancreatic tumors. Ab Hu Kidney Hu Colon Hu Heart Hu Cerebrum Hu Skin panc tumor 13 renal corpulus + basal membrane ++ — + epidermis + +++ 114 renal corpulus ++ basal membrane ++ — ++ epidermis ++ ++++ 11 renal corpulus + basal membrane ++ — ++ n.a. (+) +++ 44 — basal membrane + — +/− n.a. ++ 98 — basal membrane + — +/− n.a. (+) +++ 111 renal corpulus +/- basal membrane + — + n.a. +++

IHC analysis of binding of TF-HuMabs to human pancreatic tumors revealed positive staining for all TF-HuMabs (exemplified in FIG. 13 ).

Example 24 Treatment of Established MDA-MB-231 Tumor Xenograft in Mammary Fat Pads of SCID Mice

The in vivo efficacy of TF-HuMabs was determined in established orthotopic MDA-MB-231 xenograft tumors in SCID mice. 2×10⁶ tumor cells in PBS were injected s.c. in the 2nd mammary fat pad of female SCID mice, followed by treatment with TF-HuMabs or control mAb (HuMab-KLH), starting at a moment that tumor sizes became measurable. Antibodies were injected on day 21 (260 μg/mouse), day 28 (130 μg/mouse) and day 42 (130 μg/mouse). Tumor volume was determined at least 2×/week. Volumes (mm³) were calculated from caliper (PLEXX) measurements as 0.52×(length)×(width)².

FIG. 14 shows that antibodies 114, 111, 013, 098, 011 and 044 were all effective in inhibiting growth of established orthotopic MDA-MB-231 tumors.

Example 25 Pilot Repeat Dosing of a TF-Specific HuMab in Cynomolgus Monkeys

To obtain initial information on the toxicology of TF-specific HuMabs, including an assessment of the ability of the antibodies to interfere with the coagulation cascade and hence potentially increase the bleeding risk in exposed animals, a pilot repeat dosing study in cynomolgus monkeys was performed.

Two male and two female cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis), age approximately 2 years, received intravenous injections of antibody 011:

-   -   day 1 of study: 0 mg/kg (vehicle only)     -   day 8: 1 mg/kg; 1 mL/minute     -   day 15: 10 mg/kg; 1 mL/minute     -   day 22: 100 mg/kg; 1 mL/minute

The animals were followed until day 27, at which time point the animals were euthanized for necropsy and histological evaluation of organs.

The main end point of the study were:

-   -   clinical observations: determined daily, signs of bleeding from         gums, eyes.     -   functional bleeding time and blood loss: determined on days 1,         8, 15 and 22 (1, 24 and 120 h post dosing) and at two pre-trial         time points.     -   blood/traces of blood/clots: HE stain of all tissues (determined         at tissues obtained at final sacrifice)     -   blood in urine, feces, vomit: determined daily/weekly.

No apparent toxicity of repeated, increasing dosing of antibody 011 was observed. The animals showed no clinical signs and there was no indication of cytokine release. In addition, there were no apparent clinical signs of a compromised coagulation system or systemic bleedings. At the 1 h post dose time-point, the mean bleeding time on Day 22 was significantly higher than that seen on Day 1 (p=0.012). There were no other statistically significant differences between Days 8, 15 and 22 compared with Day 1. Furthermore, it was found that there was no apparent toxicity to major organs and no adverse hematological effects. The preliminary conclusion on the histological evaluation of tissues from this study is that there were no histology findings in the four treated animals that could be attributed to treatment with the test item.

FIG. 15 shows the individual data points for each animal (duplicate samples) as a function of time. Bleeding time for 4 animals were determined on days 1, 8, 15 and 22 (1, 24 and 120 h) and at two pre-trial time points.

Example 26 Preventive and Therapeutic Treatment of BxPC3 Tumor Xenografts in SCID Mice

The in vivo efficacy of TF-HuMabs in preventive or therapeutic treatment of BxPC3 cell xenografts in SCID mice was determined. 10×10⁶ BxPC3 tumor cells in PBS were injected s.c. in female SCID mice, followed by treatment with TF-HuMabs or control mAb (HuMab-KLH).

For preventive treatment, antibodies (400 μg/mouse) were injected i.p. 1 hour after tumor induction. For therapeutic treatment, antibody injection (300 μg/mouse) was started on day 8 after tumor induction, followed by weekly antibody injections (150 μg/mouse). Tumor volume was determined at least 2×/week. Volumes (mm³) were calculated from caliper (PLEXX) measurements as 0.52×(length)×(width).

FIG. 16 shows that TF-specific HuMabs are capable of preventive as well therapeutic treatment of BxPC3 xenograft tumors.

Example 27 DNA Shuffling Between Murine and Human TF to Determine Domains Important for Binding of Anti-TF HuMabs

To determine domains important for binding of anti-TF HuMabs to human TF, DNA shuffling was performed between human and murine TF. Shuffle constructs were prepared from DNA encoding human TF, by replacing human domains with murine domains and from DNA encoding murine TF by replacing murine domains with human domains. If a domain in human TF is important for binding of an anti-TF HuMab, binding will be lost upon replacement of that domain with the murine domain. Human and murine TF are 57% homologous on protein level. FIG. 17A-17B show the constructs for human TF containing murine TF domains (TFhs, containing TFmm domains) and for murine TF containing human TF domains. HEK293F cells were transiently transfected with the constructs or with the vector alone (pcDNA3.3SP; mock). FACS analysis was performed essentially as described supra, with 30 μg/mL purified parental material. HuMab-KLH was used as a control Ab.

FIG. 17A-17B shows that all but one anti-TF HuMabs bind solely to human TF and not to murine TF. HuMab-TF-003 shows some binding to murine TF.

FIG. 18A-18O shows the results for binding of the different anti-TF HuMabs to the constructs expressed on HEK293F cells. These results are summarized in Table 15. In this table the anti-TF HuMabs are classified in groups, based on the domains on human TF that are important for binding of these HuMabs.

TABLE 15 Shuffle constructs: HuMabs that show TFhs- decreased binding 1-41 mm None 42-84 mm 11, 17, 42, 92, 98, 101, 111 85-122 mm 25, 42, 98, 109, 111 123-137 mm 44, 114 185-225 mm 13, 27, 44, 87 226-250 mm 44 Groups based on binding to shuffle constructs HuMabs in the group 1. 42 − 84 11, 17, 92, 101 2. 42 − 84 + 85 − 122 42, 98, 111 3. 85 − 122 25, 109 4. 123 − 137 114 5. 185 − 225 13, 27, 87 6. 123 − 137 + 185 − 44 225 + 226 − 250

Example 28 Binding of Fab Fragments of Anti-TF HuMabs to the Extracellular Domain of TF, Determined by ELISA, and to Cellular TF on BxPC3 Cells, Determined by FACS

Binding of Fab fragments of anti-TF HuMabs to TF was measured by ELISA (coated extracellular domain of TF) and by FACS (TF on BxPC3 cells). ELISA was performed essentially as described supra. Bound Fab fragments were detected using HRP-conjugated donkey-anti human H+L. FACS analysis was performed essentially as described supra. FITC-conjugated goat anti-human IgG (H+L) (Jackson) was used to detect bound lead candidates. Fluorescence was measured on a FACSCantoII. Binding curves were analyzed as described supra, using GraphPad Prism 5 software.

FIG. 19 shows less binding of HuMab-TF-098 and -111 Fab fragments to the extracellular domain of TF, compared to -011 Fab fragments, measured by ELISA.

FIG. 20 shows less binding of HuMab-TF-098 and -111 Fab fragments to cellular TF, compared to -011 Fab fragments, measured by FACS on BxPC3 cells.

Table 16 shows EC50 values of HuMab-TF Fab fragments for binding to the extracellular domain of TF by ELISA and to cellular TF by FACS on BxPC3 cells.

TABLE 16 Overview of EC50 values for binding of HuMab-TF Fab fragments to the extracellular domain of TF, determined by ELISA, and to cellular TF on BxPC3 cells, determined by FACS. HuMab-TF EC50 (ELISA) EC50 (FACS) 011 0.04 0.132 013 0.03 0.301 044 0.59 8.040 098 1.98 n.a. 109 0.02 0.143 111 3.14 na EC50 values are in μg/mL. na-could not be calculated.

Example 29 Binding of Anti-TF HuMabs to Cell Lines Expressing Different Levels of TF

Binding of anti-TF HuMabs to membrane-bound TF on cell lines expressing different levels of TF was determined by FACS analysis, essentially as described supra. Mouse anti-TF antibody followed by PE-conjugated anti-mouse IgGFc was used as a positive control. Fluorescence was measured on a FACSCantoII. Binding curves were analyzed essentially as described supra, using GraphPad Prism 5 software. The amount of TF molecules on cell lines was determined by Qifi kit (Dako, Glostrup, Denmark), according to the manufacturer's instructions. It was determined that SW480 cells express ˜20,000 molecules of TF per cell, SK-OV-3 cells express ˜60,000 molecules per cell, AsPC-1 cells express ˜175,000 molecules per cell and MDA-MB-231 cells express ˜900,000 molecules per cell.

FIG. 21 HuMab-TF-98 and -111 display similar binding characteristics as HuMab-TF-11, -13 and 109 in the high TF expressing cell line MDA-MD-231. In the cell lines with lower TF molecules per cell, for example the SK-OV-3 and SW480 cell lines, HuMab-TF-98 and 111 display different binding characteristics as compared to the other HuMab-TF antibodies. 

1. A human antibody which binds human Tissue Factor, wherein the antibody comprises: (a) a VH region comprising the CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NO:14, 15 and 16 and a VL region comprising the CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NO:70, 71 and 72, (b) a VH region comprising the CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NO:18, 19, 20 and a VL region comprising the CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NO:74, 75 and 76, (c) a VH region comprising the CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NO:22, 23 and 24 and a VL region comprising the CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NO:78, 79 and 80, (d) a VH region comprising the CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NO: 26, 27 and 28 and a VL region comprising the CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 sequences of SEQ ID NO: 82, 83 and 84, or (e) a variant of any of (a)-(d), wherein said variant has at most 1, 2 or 3 amino-acid modifications. 2-66. (canceled)
 67. A bispecific molecule comprising the antibody of claim 1 and a second binding specificity for a human effector cell, a human Fc receptor or a T cell receptor.
 68. An expression vector comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding one or more of the amino acid sequences of the antibody of claim
 1. 69. (canceled)
 70. A recombinant eukaryotic or prokaryotic host cell which produces the antibody as defined in claim
 1. 71. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the antibody as defined in claim 1 or a bispecific molecule comprising the antibody of claim 1 and a second binding specificity, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 72-83. (canceled)
 84. A method for inhibiting growth and/or proliferation of a tumor cell expressing Tissue Factor, comprising administration, to an individual in need thereof, of an antibody of any of claim 1 or a bispecific molecule comprising the antibody of claim 1 and a second binding specificity.
 85. A method for producing the antibody of claim 1, said method comprising the steps of a) culturing a recombinant eukaryotic or prokaryotic host cell which produces the antibody as defined in claim 1, and b) purifying the antibody from the culture media.
 86. A diagnostic composition comprising the antibody as defined in claim
 1. 87. A method for detecting the presence of Tissue Factor in a sample, comprising: contacting the sample with an antibody of claim 1, or a bispecific molecule comprising the antibody of claim 1 and a second binding specificity, under conditions that allow for formation of a complex between the antibody or bispecific molecules and Tissue Factor; and analyzing whether a complex has been formed.
 88. A kit for detecting the presence of Tissue Factor in a sample comprising an antibody of claim 1 or a bispecific molecule comprising the antibody of claim 1 and a second binding specificity; and instructions for use of the kit. 